Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 340 - Department of Human Services › Chapter 75 - Licensing Services › Subchapter 7 - Foster Home Care › Part 2 - DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCE FAMILIES › Section 340:75-7-18 - Resource family assessment (RFA)

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a)
RFA.
Per Section
				  1-7-111 of Title 10A of the
				  Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-7-111), the Oklahoma Human Services
				  (OKDHS) or RFA contractor conducts an assessment of the applicant's and each
				  household member's background and other circumstances and conditions to
				  determine if the home is suitable and provides a safe environment for the child
				  in OKDHS custody requiring foster care.
(b)
Mandate to conduct background
				  information search.
10A O.S. § 1-7-111 and the Oklahoma Child Care
				  Facilities Licensing Act, 10 O.S. §§ 401 et seq. mandate that a
				  national criminal history records search based on the submission of
				  fingerprints and a child abuse and neglect information system check be
				  conducted for each applicant and each household member 18 years of age and
				  older that is not a foster child. The applicant and each adult household member
				  complete and sign Forms 04AF001E, Resource Family Application, and 04AD003E,
				  Request for Background Check to authorize OKDHS to conduct a search into the
				  applicant's and adult household member's criminal history records and OKDHS
				  records.
(c)
Form 04AF004E,
				  House assessment.
An in-home evaluation of the applicant's residence is
				  conducted to assess the location, condition, and capacity to accommodate the
				  child in OKDHS custody who requires foster care. Form 04AF004E includes an
				  assessment of (1) through (13) of this subsection.
(1) The home's location. The home is
				  accessible to school, medical, and recreational resources.
(2) The home's and property's condition. The
				  home is clean and safe and any structures on the property that are accessible
				  to a child are in a safe condition. The home and surroundings are evaluated
				  regarding possible safety concerns and addressed with a plan of supervision,
				  when applicable.
(3) Available play
				  space. Adequate and safe indoor and outdoor space for play activities is
				  available. Outdoor recreational equipment on the resource home's grounds, such
				  as swing sets, riding toys, trampolines, or tree houses are clean and are
				  maintained in good repair.
(4)
				  Age-appropriate equipment. Age-appropriate child care equipment, such as beds,
				  high chairs, or toys are available, clean, and in good repair.
(5) Phone communications. An operable phone
				  is available in the home when a child is present.
(6) Transportation.
(A) The applicant:
(i) maintains a vehicle in safe working order
				  that is capable of transporting children and:
(I) carries the statutorily mandated vehicle
				  liability insurance;
(II) possesses
				  a valid driver license; and
(III)
				  has a current, valid vehicle license tag; or
(ii) provides an acceptable transportation
				  plan for the child in OKDHS custody.
(B) The applicant is advised that proper
				  passenger restraints are used at all times when a child in OKDHS custody is
				  riding in a vehicle.
(C) The
				  applicant agrees to transport all children and adults in compliance with
				  applicable state law, per 47 O.S. § 11-1112.
(7) Sleeping arrangements and privacy.
(A) The applicant's home provides a separate
				  bed for each child, with the exception of siblings younger than 6 years of age
				  who exhibit a need for mutual support.
(B) A separate bedroom is provided for a
				  child who acts out sexually.
(C)
				  Preferably, no more than two children share a bedroom. Primary consideration is
				  given to related children according to age and emotional needs.
(D) The applicant's home provides separate
				  bedrooms for children 7 years of age and older of the opposite sex.
(E) A child in OKDHS custody, with the
				  exception of an infant who is younger than 12 months of age, does not share a
				  bedroom with an adult in the household. Under no circumstances is a child of
				  any age authorized to sleep with an adult.
(F) The applicant's home provides space for
				  the child's personal possessions and for a reasonable degree of
				  privacy.
(G) The applicant may not
				  designate a room, such as the living room, utility room, den, dining room,
				  pantry, or unconverted garage as a bedroom for a child in OKDHS custody unless
				  the room is specifically designed as a bedroom.
(8) Infant sleeping arrangements. A crib,
				  port-a-crib, or playpen with a firm, waterproof mattress or pad is used for
				  each child younger than 12 months of age.
(A)
				  Cribs, port-a-cribs, and playpens with more than two and 3/8 inches between
				  slats or between the side and end panels are not allowed.
(B) Cribs with decorative cutout areas in
				  crib-end panels or tall decorative knobs on the corner posts that may entrap a
				  child's head or catch the child's clothing are not allowed.
(C) Cribs with drop-side latches must have
				  the manufacturer-provided kits to lock the crib side in the upright position
				  due to safety hazards.
(D)
				  Mattresses are tight-fitting with no more than one inch between the mattress
				  and crib, port-a-crib, or playpen.
(E) Mattress and crib sheets fit
				  snugly.
(F) Soft sleeping surfaces,
				  such as soft mattresses, waterbeds, sofas, pillows, beanbag chairs, and
				  inflatable mats are prohibited.
(G)
				  Pillows, quilts, comforters and blankets, sheepskins, stuffed toys, bumper
				  pads, breathable bumper pads, and other soft products are not permitted in the
				  infant's crib, port-a-crib, or playpen.
(H) Infants birth through three months of age
				  may be swaddled with an infant-sized, thin fabric, such as a receiving
				  blanket.
(I) When placed for
				  sleeping, items, such as pacifiers, teething necklaces, and bibs, are not
				  attached to the infant or his or her clothing.
(J) An infant is immediately moved to a crib,
				  port-a-crib, or playpen when he or she falls asleep in other
				  equipment.
(K) Mobiles may be
				  securely attached or hung above the crib provided no part of the mobile is
				  within the infant's reach.
(9) Infant sleep positions.
(A) To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death
				  Syndrome (SIDS), the infant younger than 12 months of age is placed on his or
				  her back for sleeping, unless there is a medical reason documented by a health
				  care professional that the infant must not sleep on his or her back.
(B) The infant who is able to turn himself or
				  herself over is placed initially on his or her back for sleeping but is allowed
				  to sleep in the position he or she prefers.
(10) Water safety.
(A) Form 04MP061E, Water Safety Agreement, is
				  completed for all applicants.
(B)
				  The definition of a water structure or water mass includes, but is not limited
				  to:
(i) swimming pools;
(ii) decorative ponds;
(iii) farm ponds or streams;
(iv) fountains;
(v) wading pools;
(vi) hot tubs or spas; and
(vii) waterfalls.
(C) Any activity that involves a child in
				  OKDHS custody wading or swimming is supervised at all times.
(D) All applicable laws, ordinances, rules
				  and regulations, and insurance requirements for pools are followed.
(E) A hot tub is equipped with a hard cover
				  designed for a hot tub.
(F) The use
				  of portable wading pools is monitored at all times. The wading pool is emptied
				  at the end of each use.
(G) A water
				  safety plan is developed and each adult identified to provide supervision for
				  the child during water activities signs the water safety plan. The water safety
				  plan includes appropriate measures to ensure the child's safety. Appropriate
				  measures may include, but are not limited to:
(i) fencing. A water structure or water mass
				  is fenced to prevent unsupervised access. There is a sturdy fence:
(I) at least four feet high that cannot be
				  easily climbed; or
(II) that
				  connects to the top of an above-ground pool and extends two feet above the pool
				  or follows other specified safety guidelines;
(ii) pool covers. A child-safety pool cover
				  is placed over the water area each time the pool is not in use. Pool covers are
				  completely removed prior to pool use;
(iii) locked doors. All doors and gates
				  leading to the water structure, are locked;
(iv) pool alarms. Pool alarms are installed
				  and operating when the pool is not in use;
(v) removable ladders. Removable ladders are
				  removed from the water structure when not in use;
(vi) safety devices, such as lifejackets or
				  rings;
(vii) swimming lessons;
				  or
(viii) training, such as
				  cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and first aid.
(11) Animal and household pet safety.
(A) Animals are in good health, do not show
				  evidence of carrying disease, and do not present a threat to the health,
				  safety, or welfare of children. Appropriate supervision is required when the
				  child in OKDHS custody is in the presence of the family's animals.
(B) The applicant or parent provides
				  documentation of current rabies vaccinations for applicable animals.
(C) When an animal bites a child, the
				  applicant or parent obtains appropriate and immediate medical treatment and
				  contacts the assigned child welfare (CW) specialist as soon as the child's
				  safety is secured.
(12)
				  Weapon safety.
(A) An applicant or parent is
				  responsible for ensuring the safety of a child in OKDHS custody who comes
				  within close proximity to:
(i) a firearm or
				  other weapon; or
(ii) an individual
				  in possession of a firearm or other weapon.
(B) Any firearm or weapon in the home must be
				  maintained, along with any ammunition, in a secure container, cabinet, or
				  closet or otherwise be inaccessible at all times to children who are in the
				  home.
(C) No firearm or weapon is
				  transported in any vehicle in which a child in OKDHS custody is riding unless
				  the firearm or weapon is safely secured or inaccessible to the child.
(D) A law enforcement official is exempt from
				  (B) and (C) of this paragraph when conditions of employment require ready and
				  immediate access to his or her weapon.
(E) An applicant or parent licensed to carry
				  a handgun, whether concealed or unconcealed, per 21 O.S. §§ 1290.1 et
				  seq., the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, may maintain the firearm in a holster
				  secured to his or her person, per 21 O.S. § 1290.2. When the firearm is
				  not holstered and secured to his or her person, it must be maintained as
				  required in (A) through (C) of this paragraph.
(F) Any activity the child in OKDHS custody
				  participates in that involves a weapon must have appropriate adult supervision
				  at all times. The applicant or parent obtains pre-approval for the child's
				  participation in a weapons activity from the child's assigned CW specialist or
				  CW supervisor.
(13)
				  Disaster plans. Disaster plans are reviewed with each newly-placed child and
				  periodically with all children in the home. The family disaster plan includes:
(A) a list of emergency phone numbers posted
				  in an accessible and conspicuous place. The list includes:
(i) 911;
(ii) doctors' names and phone
				  numbers;
(iii) health professionals
				  or clinics;
(iv) fire and police
				  departments;
(v) an ambulance
				  service; and
(vi) the name and phone
				  numbers of the alternate caregiver;
(B) access to a phone at all times when a
				  child in OKDHS custody is present;
(C) an evacuation plan in the event of a
				  fire, tornado, earthquake, flood, ice storm, or other natural, state, or
				  national disaster;
(D) first aid
				  procedures and supplies;
(E) a
				  planned source of available medical care, such as a hospital emergency room,
				  clinic, or health care professional;
(F) a plan of whom to contact when there is
				  an accident, an incident involving the child in OKDHS custody, or he or she
				  runs away or is abducted; and
(G) a
				  plan of whom to contact and community resources to access when the child in
				  OKDHS custody has behavioral problems.