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 Oklahoma Statutes (Last Updated: September 18, 2014)
 Title 10. CHILDREN

  § 10-7505-5.4. Persons or agencies authorized to conduct home studies.  

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  • A.  Home studies satisfying Sections 7505-5.1, 7505-5.2 and 7505-5.3 of this title must be conducted and the reports prepared only by the following persons or agencies:

    1.  The agency having custody or legal guardianship of the child;

    2.  The Department of Human Services;

    3.  A licensed child-placing agency; or

    4.  A person designated by the court who does not have an interest in the outcome of the home study and who meets one of the following qualifications:

    a.a master's degree in social work and one (1) year of experience in children's services,

    b.a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) and one (1) year of experience in children's services,

    c.a master's degree in a behavioral or social science and two (2) years' experience in children's services,

    d.a doctorate in a behavioral or social science and one (1) year of experience in children's services, or

    e.is a member of the clergy with two (2) years of experience in family counseling and is not the clergy for the adoptive parents.

    B.  Persons satisfying the qualifications listed in paragraph 4 of subsection A of this section shall attend and satisfactorily complete at least once every three (3) years a minimum of a three-hour course in home study preparation and adoption trends taught by a licensed child-placing agency, by the Department of Human Services, a statewide organization composed of public and private adoption professionals, or by a college or university.  Documentation of having met this educational requirement shall be provided by the person to the court or others upon request.

    C.  The court may order agencies named in subsection A of this section located in one or more counties to make separate investigations on separate parts of the inquiry, as may be appropriate.

    D.  The Department of Human Services shall not be required by the court to make a home study and report to the court on adoptive placements made by private adoption agencies or persons providing private adoption services.

Added by Laws 1957, p. 24, § 13.  Amended by Laws 1959, p. 27, § 1, emerg. eff. April 6, 1959; Laws 1987, c. 85, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1987; Laws 1994, c. 122, § 3, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1997, c. 366, § 32, eff. Nov. 1, 1997.  Renumbered from Title 10, § 60.13 by Laws 1997, c. 366, § 58, eff. Nov. 1, 1997.  Amended by Laws 1999, c. 396, § 19, emerg. eff. June 10, 1999; Laws 2011, c. 371, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.