SECTION 340:75-7-292. Foster parent complaints about Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) or child-placing employees made to the Office of Juvenile System Oversight

(a)   The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, Office of Juvenile System Oversight (OJSO), receives any complaint alleging an employee of the Department of Human Services (DHS) or a child placing agency has threatened a foster parent with removal of a child from the foster parent, harassed a foster parent, refused to place a child in a licensed or certified foster home, or disrupted a child placement as retaliation or discrimination toward a foster parent who has:

(1)   filed a grievance pursuant to Section 1-9-120 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-9-120);

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

(3)   testified, assisted, or otherwise participated in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing against the DHS or child placing agency.

(b)   OJSO forwards complaints to the DHS Office of Client Advocacy (OCA) for investigation per 10A O.S. § 1-9-112. OJSO works with OCA to ensure the complaints are investigated and resolved in accordance with the grievance procedures per 10A O.S. § 1-9-120. This does not apply to any complaint by a foster parent regarding the result of a criminal, administrative, or civil proceeding for a violation of any law, rule, or contract provision by that foster parent, or the action taken by DHS or a child placing agency in conformity with the result of any such proceeding.

[Source: Added at 32 Ok Reg 296, eff 11-17-14 (emergency); Added at 32 Ok Reg 1904, eff 9-15-15]