FAQs

Fostering and adoption have their
differences. Foster care is most often
a temporary situation.
Children are placed in foster care when
their families are unable to provide
them with a safe and secure
environment. Foster parents must be
willing to accept that the child placed
with them will generally return home.
The family must be willing to work
toward reunification with a biological
family, when this is the goal for the
child.
When reunification is not possible,
adoption may become the goal. When
adoption is the goal, OKDHS will place
the child in a home where the child can
be integrated into the family as a
permanent member. Adoptive parents
should be able to emotionally accept a
child as their own and be willing to
provide for the child through adulthood
and possibly beyond.

In the state of Oklahoma, more than
6,000 children are in the custody of
OKDHS. Approximately 4,400 need
temporary care and another 1,600
need permanent homes. These
children are of all ethnicities and ages
and have a variety of needs, including
physical, developmental, or emotional
problems. Many are sibling groups.
They are all children who need a safe
and loving family.

Single or married people who:

		Are at least 21 years of age
		Have sufficient income to meet
		current expenses
		Have or can provide sufficient
		beds and bedrooms for additional children
		Do not have a history of alleged or
		confirmed child abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse
		Have a working vehicle and
		telephone
		Be in good physical and mental
		health
		Have the ability to understand,
		love, care for and accept a child to whom they did not give birth or father

Home Assessment Requirements

		Completion of OKDHS forms and
		application
		Reference Checks
		Background Checks
		Medical Examination Report
		Finger Printing
		Family Assessment, including
		interviews with all family members
		Completion of 21 hours OK PATH
		training and 6 additional hours in Behavior Crisis Management
		House safety assessment
		Verification of vaccination for pets
		Automobile insurance verification

Foster Care

		Monthly reimbursement for each child
		based on set rates
		Insurance for a child's medical, dental,
		vision and counseling expenses
		Liability insurance
		Child care services can be provided to
		foster parents who work outside of the home at least 20 hours per week
		Quarterly clothing vouchers
		Supportive services and consultation
		with a social worker

Adoption

		Subsidy payment may be available for
		adoption of an older child, sibling groups and children with emotional, learning or medical needs.
		Subsidy payment to help with attorney
		fees
		Insurance for a child's medical, dental,
		vision and counseling expenses
		Supportive services and consultation
		with a social worker
		Referral to post-adoption service

Yes. As part of the application process,
you will be asked to complete a
checklist indicating the ages and types
of children you would be willing to
accept. Once you are approved, when a
child or siblings are in need of
placement, the worker will provide
non-identifying information to help a
family decide whether they are willing
to accept a particular child into their
home.
In the adoption process, if you are
selected for a child, you will have
opportunities to meet the child and have
the child visit your home as part of the
transition process.