SECTION 340:75-7-41. Placement considerations and requirements for the child in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) custody

(a)   Placement preferences for the child in DHS custody. Refer to Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:75-6-85 for additional statutory and DHS requirements regarding sibling placement and placement preferences for the child in DHS custody.

(b)   Identification of appropriate placement. Per Section 1-4-204 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-4-204), when selecting an appropriate placement, preferably kinship placement, for the child in DHS custody, DHS considers the:

(1)   child's best interests;

(2)   preferences of the parent, relative, and child, when appropriate; and

(3)   applicant's ability and willingness to:

(A)   provide safety for the child;

(B)   cooperate with any restrictions placed on contact between the child and others;

(C)   support DHS efforts to implement the child's permanency plan;

(D)   meet the child's physical, emotional, and educational needs including the child's need to continue in the same school or educational placement;

(E)   provide a placement for the child's sibling(s); and

(F)   care for the child as long as necessary and provide a permanent home, when necessary.

(c)   Placement stability. To promote stability and healthy growth of the child in DHS custody, it is the intent of DHS to limit the number of times a child is moved in out-of-home placement.

(1)   The placement made is the best available placement to provide permanency for the child.

(2)   A request by a placement provider for immediate removal of a child is examined and assessed to determine if the situation can be resolved to prevent disruption of the placement.

[Source: Added at 17 Ok Reg 549, eff 12-1-99 (emergency); Added at 17 Ok Reg 1481, eff 3-27-00 (emergency); Added at 17 Ok Reg 2429, eff 6-26-00; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 3367, eff 9-1-00 (preemptive); Amended at 19 Ok Reg 208, eff 12-1-01 (emergency); Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2226, eff 6-27-02; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 2385, eff 6-25-04; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 1282, eff 6-1-09; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1092, eff 3-26-10 (emergency); Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1865, eff 7-1-10; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 839, eff 7-1-13; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1695, eff 9-17-18]