SECTION 340:75-15-103. Pre-adoption placement services

(a)   Pre-adoption services. Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) pre-adoption services assist the potential adoptive family to incorporate the child into the adoptive family during the trial-adoption (TA) placement period, prior to the legal finalization of the adoption.

(1)   Disclosure of identifying or non-identifying background information. DHS provides medical, psychological, educational, and social history including the child profile, to the adoptive parent authorized to adopt the specific child.

(2)   Counseling services. The adoptive family is fully informed of the child's history of psychological counseling and referred for services at the time of TA placement, when needed. Under Medicaid (SoonerCare), all outpatient psychological services except for the first hour of psychological evaluation must have prior authorization.

(3)   Medical services. Children in a TA may be eligible to receive Medicaid (SoonerCare) services.

(4)    Pre-finalization adoption assistance. Adoption assistance may be provided to the adoptive family at the time the child enters the adoptive home as a legal-risk or legally-free adoptive placement, per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:75-15-128 through 340:75-15-128.6. Adoption assistance may include a monthly payment, Medicaid (SoonerCare), or both.

(5)   Child care. Employment-related child care is available for children in trial-adoptive placement.

(6)   Comprehensive Home-Based Services (CHBS). CHBS are available to assist trial-adoptive and post-adoptive families who are experiencing difficulty and are at risk of a placement disruption, per OAC 340:75-1-151.

(7)    Family assessment and adoption post-placement service plan (APPSP). A written APPSP is completed for each child and family receiving child welfare services, including adoptive families within 30-calendar days of the child's placement in the adoptive home.

(8)   Adoptive parent support groups. Adoptive parent support groups provide social and emotional support to the adopted child and his or her parent. The adoption specialist informs the adoptive parent of support group benefits.

(9)   Notice to pre-adoptive parent of deprived court hearing. The adoption specialist provides the pre-adoptive parent, who is providing care for the child, with notice of reviews or deprived court hearings that are held regarding the child, and the court provides an opportunity for the pre-adoptive parent to be heard.

(b)   TA period. When the child has no prior relationship with the adoptive family, the TA period is usually six months. When the child is being adopted by a relative or foster family with whom the child has resided for the preceding six months, the TA period may be reduced when the child and family have successfully adjusted to the placement. The adoptive parent is advised to retain the services of an attorney or those of a DHS Legal Services attorney when the child is placed in the adoptive home to complete the legal finalization of the adoption by the court.

(c)   Pre-finalization disruption. The TA placement may disrupt prior to finalization when the adoptive parent requests the child be moved from the adoptive home or DHS determines the placement poses a risk to the child.

[Source: Added at 11 Ok Reg 651, eff 11-15-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 3281, eff 6-27-94; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 998, eff 1-24-97 (emergency); Amended at 14 Ok Reg 2288, eff 6-12-97; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 102, eff 10-13-98 (preemptive); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 2740, eff 4-14-99 (emergency); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1950, eff 6-11-99; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 1311, eff 5-11-00; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3067, eff 7-12-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2208, eff 6-27-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2072, eff 6-26-03; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 1242, eff 5-26-05; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1323, eff 6-1-07; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1092, eff 3-26-10 (emergency); Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1865, eff 7-1-10; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 635, eff 6-1-12; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1904, eff 9-15-15; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1695, eff 9-17-18]