A. The Department of Human Services or any child-placing agency shall, prior to any foster placement, enter into a written contract with the foster care placement provider. The contract shall provide, at a minimum:
1. That the state agency and the child-placing agency shall have access at all times to the child and to the foster placement;
2. A listing of any specific requirements, specific duties or restrictions in providing foster care services;
3. That any foster child shall have access to and be accessible by any court-appointed special advocate for the foster child and the foster child's attorney;
4. That the foster care placement provider shall comply with performance standards required pursuant to the Oklahoma Children's Code and the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act;
5. Information regarding the amount of payments to be made for foster care services, including but not limited to a description of the process involved in receiving payments, including projected time frames, information related to reimbursements for eligible costs and expenses for which the foster parent may be reimbursed and any information concerning the accessibility and availability of funds for foster parents;
6. That any foster child placed with a foster care placement provider shall be released to the state agency or the child-placing agency whenever, in the opinion of the state agency or the child-placing agency, the best interests of the deprived child require such release; and
7. Such other information required by the state agency and the child-placing agency.
B. The state agency or child-placing agency shall provide the following information to the foster parent at the time of placement, along with a copy of the written contract required pursuant to subsection A of this section:
1. The names and telephone numbers of the child's case worker, the foster parents' case worker, the case workers' supervisors, and the contact within the state agency central office, or the name and telephone number of the contact person within the child-placing agency and any other medical, psychological, social or other pertinent information relating to foster care;
2. A copy of the grievance procedure established by the state agency or the child-placing agency;
3. The name and telephone number of any foster parent association in the county of residence of the foster parent;
4. For foster parents of deprived children, the name and telephone number of any postadjudication review board established in the county of residence of the foster parent or the nearest postadjudication review board and the court having jurisdiction over the child;
5. A copy of the statement of foster parent rights;
6. Information detailing the ability of the foster parent to submit information and written reports to the court, and to request the court for review of a decision by the state agency or the child-placing agency to remove a foster child who has been placed with the foster parent, in accordance with the limitations and requirements of Section 1-4-805 of this title; and
7. A copy of the policies and procedures of the Department or child-placing agency which pertain to placement operations of the agency, and which may be necessary to properly inform the out-of-home placement providers of the duties, rights and responsibilities of the out-of-home placement providers and the Department.
C. 1. In addition to other requirements made pursuant to the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act, each child-placing agency shall maintain supervision of all children placed by the agency in foster placement and shall maintain supervision of and make regular visits to such foster placements.
2. The child-placing agency shall visit each foster child no less than once every month with no less than two visits per quarter in the foster placement.
3. The child-placing agency shall prepare and maintain a written report of its findings for each visit.
4.a.A complete written review of the placement, well-being, and progress of any foster child in foster care with a child-placing agency shall be made by the child-placing agency as required by the Department.
Added by Laws 1996, c. 353, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 1996. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 389, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 414, § 7, emerg. eff. June 11, 1998; Laws 2008, c. 159, § 3, emerg. eff. May 12, 2008; Laws 2009, c. 233, § 97, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009. Renumbered from § 7206 of Title 10 by Laws 2009, c. 233, § 310, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009.