§ 10A-1-7-111. Foster parent eligibility assessment - Criminal history investigation - Individualized service plan - Medical examinations.

A.  1.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Department of Human Services or the Office of Juvenile Affairs shall not place a child in a foster home prior to completion of:

a.a foster parent eligibility assessment on the foster parent applicant,

b.a national criminal history records search based upon submission of fingerprints for any adult residing in the home, as required by the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act and the Oklahoma Children's Code,

c.a Motor Vehicle Report obtained from the Department of Public Safety regarding each adult residing in the home, and

d.a check of any child abuse registry maintained by a state in which the prospective foster parent or any adult living in the home of the prospective foster parent has resided in the preceding five (5) years.

Provided, however, the state agencies may place a child in the home of a foster parent, pending completion of the national criminal history records search, if the foster parent and every adult residing in the home of the foster parent have resided in this state for at least five (5) years immediately preceding placement.  The director of such state agency or designee may authorize an exception to the fingerprinting requirement for any person residing in the home who has a severe physical condition which precludes such person from being fingerprinted.

2.a.The Department shall be the lead agency for disseminating fingerprint cards to courts and child-placing agencies for obtaining and requesting a national criminal history records search based upon submission of fingerprints from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.  The Office of Juvenile Affairs may directly request national criminal history records searches as defined by Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining the national criminal history of any individual for which such a search is required pursuant to this section.

b.Courts and child-placing agencies may request the Department to obtain from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation a national criminal history records search based upon submission of fingerprints for foster parents and other persons requiring such search pursuant to the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act and the Oklahoma Children's Code.  Any fees charged by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation or the Federal Bureau of Investigation for such searches shall be paid by the requesting entity.

c.Either the Department or the Office of Juvenile Affairs, whichever is applicable, shall contract with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to obtain national criminal history records searches based upon submission of fingerprints.

B.  A child-placing agency shall not place a child who is in the custody of the agency in a foster home until completion of a foster parent eligibility assessment and a national criminal history records search based upon submission of fingerprints has been completed for each individual residing in the home in which the child will be placed, as required pursuant to the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act or the Oklahoma Children's Code, and a check of any child abuse registry maintained by a state in which the prospective foster parent or any adult living in the home of the prospective foster parent has resided in the past five (5) years; provided, however, the child-placing agency may place a child in a foster family home pending completion of the national criminal history records search if the foster parent and every adult residing in the home have resided in this state for at least five (5) years immediately preceding the placement.

C.  1.  Whenever a court awards custody of a child to an individual or a child-placing agency other than the Department or the Office of Juvenile Affairs, for placement of the child, the court shall:

a.require that when custody is placed with an individual, a foster family eligibility assessment be conducted for the foster parents prior to placement of the child, and

b.require that if custody is awarded to a child-placing agency, a foster family eligibility assessment be conducted as required by the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act.

2.  A child-placing agency other than the Department or the Office of Juvenile Affairs shall, within thirty (30) days of placement, provide for an assessment of the child for the purpose of establishing an appropriate individualized service plan for the child.  The court shall require the individualized service plan to be completed in substantially the same form and with the same content as required by the Oklahoma Children's Code for a deprived child or as required by the Oklahoma Juvenile Code for a delinquent child or a child in need of supervision.

3.  The child shall receive a complete medical examination within thirty (30) days of initial placement unless a medical examination was conducted on the child upon the removal of the child and the court finds no need for an additional examination.

4.  The child may receive such further diagnosis and evaluation as necessary as determined by the court to preserve the physical and mental well-being of the child.

D.  When the court awards custody of a child to an individual or a child-placing agency as provided by this section, the individual or child-placing agency shall be responsible for the completion of and costs of the national criminal history records search based upon submission of fingerprints, the foster parent eligibility assessment, the preparation of an individualized service plan, and the medical examination required by this section.

Added by Laws 1996, c. 353, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 1996.  Amended by Laws 1997, c. 386, § 14, emerg. eff. June 10, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 414, § 10, emerg. eff. June 11, 1998; Laws 1999, c. 2, § 3, emerg. eff. March 3, 1999; Laws 2002, c. 237, § 4, emerg. eff. May 9, 2002; Laws 2003, c. 213, § 2, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2007, c. 196, § 6, eff. July 1, 2007; Laws 2008, c. 159, § 1, emerg. eff. May 12, 2008; Laws 2009, c. 233, § 101, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009.  Renumbered from § 7209 of Title 10 by Laws 2009, c. 233, § 284, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009.  Amended by Laws 2009, c. 338, § 12, eff. July 1, 2009; Laws 2012, c. 242, § 2.