SECTION 340:75-15-124. Post-adoption services

  Post-adoption services are an essential component of the adoption program. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) provides post-adoption services to assist the adoptive family, maintain the child in the home, and support adult adoptees and birth family members coping with the lifelong impact of adoption. DHS post-adoption services include:

(1)   Adoption assistance. DHS administers federal and state adoption assistance programs to assist with the adoption of children with special needs, per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:75-15-7 and 340:75-15-128.

(2)   Comprehensive Home-Based Services (CHBS). DHS provides CHBS for adoptive families through Oklahoma Children's Services, per OAC 340:75-1-151.

(3)   Medicaid (SoonerCare) services. Children who are approved for adoption assistance may be eligible for services within the scope of the Medicaid (SoonerCare) program. The adoptive family is responsible for any medical services provided to the child that are not within the scope of the Medicaid (SoonerCare) program.

(4)   Respite vouchers. Adoptive families may request respite vouchers.

(5)   Information disclosure after finalization.

(A)   Adoptee and birth family. DHS provides upon request, a copy of Form 04AN347E, Medical and Social History Report for Adoption, and any additional medical and social history information in its possession to:

(i)   the adoptive parent or legal guardian of the minor adopted child;

(ii)   an adoptee 18 years of age and older; or

(iii)   an individual 18 years of age and older, whose biological parents' parental rights were terminated and who was never adopted.

(B)   Direct descendant. DHS provides medical information, only upon request, to:

(i)   an adult direct descendant of a deceased adopted person;

(ii)   an adult direct descendant of a deceased person whose biological parents' parental rights were terminated and who was never adopted;

(iii)   the parent or guardian of a minor direct descendant of a deceased adopted person; or

(iv)   the parent or guardian of a minor direct descendant of a deceased person whose biological parents' rights were terminated and who was never adopted.

(C)   Genetic information. DHS provides upon request, a copy of supplemental genetic information about an adopted person, or about a person, whose parental rights were terminated that became available after the issuance of the final decree of adoption, or the termination order to a biological parent or biological relative of:

(i)   an adopted person; and

(ii)   a person whose biological parents' rights were terminated and was never adopted.

(D)   Post-finalization. Additional information received about an adopted child, the adopted child's biological parents, or the adopted child's genetic history is submitted to DHS after the adoption is finalized and retained in the adoption record as long as the records are maintained. A copy is filed with the clerk of the court that issued the decree of adoption and made a part of the court's permanent record.

(E)   Tribal information. DHS may not provide identifying information directly to an adult adoptee to establish tribal rights or membership, but will provide identifying information to the tribe, the court, or Secretary of the Interior for purposes of establishing Native American heritage.

(F)   Inheritance. Termination of parental rights does not terminate the child's right to inherit from the biological parent. DHS assists biological parents with locating heirs and acts as an intermediary, upon request.

(6)   Mutual-Consent Voluntary Registry. The Mutual-Consent Voluntary Registry allows adult adoptees and persons separated from birth family members to receive assistance locating birth family members, when parental rights were terminated, per OAC 340:75-15-132.

(7)   Confidential Intermediary Search Program. A person may request the services of a confidential intermediary to search for members of his or her birth family, per OAC 340:75-15-133.

[Source: Added at 11 Ok Reg 651, eff 11-15-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 3281, eff 6-27-94; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 3531, eff 9-7-00 (emergency); Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2128, eff 6-11-01; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3067, eff 7-12-01; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2072, eff 6-26-03; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1904, eff 9-15-15; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1695, eff 9-17-18]