SECTION 340:75-7-290. Foster Care and Adoption Support Center

  Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) maintains a foster parent and adoptive parent support center to provide information related to foster care and adoptive services. The support center is accessed by calling 1-800-376-9729, emailing [e-mail], or by visiting www.okfosters.org.

(1)   Foster care general information or concerns. The support center may be contacted when:

(A)   a person needs general information regarding foster care or adoption; or

(B)   the foster parent or adoptive parent does not feel his or her specific concerns were addressed by DHS staff.

(2)   Reports.

(A)   Per Section 1-9-117 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-9-117), the support center call is directed to the DHS Office of Client Advocacy where an investigation or inquiry may be initiated regarding allegations that a DHS employee or a child-placing agency:

(i)   threatened the foster parent with removal of a child in the foster parent's care;

(ii)   harassed the foster parent;

(iii)   refused to place a child in the approved foster home;

(iv)   discriminated against the foster parent due to race, color, or national origin; or

(v)   disrupted a child placement as a result of retaliation or discrimination against the foster parent who:

(I)   filed a grievance with DHS Child Welfare Services;

(II)   provided information to any state official or DHS employee; or

(III)   testified, assisted, or otherwise participated in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing against DHS or a child-placing agency.

(B)   Allegations of foster parent rights violations are reported to the foster care ombudsman at the DHS Office of Client Advocacy, per 10A O.S. § 1-9-120. The foster care ombudsman may be contacted at 1-866-335-9288 or www.okfosterparentvoices.org.

[Source: Added at 28 Ok Reg 894, eff 7-1-11; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 839, eff 7-1-13; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1695, eff 9-17-18]