The Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan - Oklahoma Department of Human ...

The Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan: March 2012
An Improvement Plan for Child Welfare Services
INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND SUPPORT OF RESOURCE
FAMILIES; REDUCING SHELTER USAGE; AND IMPROVING PLACEMENT STABILITY
Year One (SFY 2013)
1. By May 1, 2012 each county must submit a recruitment and retention plan to OKDHS
Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) that includes the number of non-relative
homes needed. CFSD reviews and approves the plans for submission to the Co-
Neutrals. These targets are subject to the review and approval of the Co-Neutrals. This
is an annual and ongoing requirement for each county.
2. By July 1, 2012, CFSD submits the data and the recommended targets to TFC agencies
regarding the number of homes needed by county. These targets are subject to the
review and approval of the Co-Neutrals. OKDHS will partner with the TFC agencies to
develop recruitment plans to meet the identified needs. This is an annual requirement
for CFSD and the TFC agencies.
3. By July 1, 2012, OKDHS determines the number of emergency foster homes, shelter
host homes, and/or resource homes needed to prevent children under six years of age
from spending the night in shelters. This data is generated statewide and available at
the county level to revise the recruitment goals as needed.
4. By July 1, 2012, each county identifies specific staff for recruiting, retaining, and
supporting resource families. As additional contracts are awarded (later initiative), the
number of OKDHS staff needed for this type of assignment may be reduced.
5. By July 1, 2012, OKDHS sends home studies (foster care and adoption) to contractors
for completion, freeing up agency staff to conduct other activities, such as
reassessments and support to current families.
6. By September 30, 2012, OKDHS completes the bidding process for an adequate
number of private/public partnerships for the recruitment, support, and retention of
non-relative foster parents.
7. By December 31, 2012, OKDHS shortens the length of time expected to complete home
studies to 30 days. This assists with the delay in getting kinship families the financial
support needed to care for children.
8. By June 30, 2013, OKDHS increases the number of resource parents who access
children’s Medical Passport (a web-based program allowing access to children’s medical
records). During the same time frame, CFSD develops and implements a placement
process that ensures resource parents receive adequate information at placement.
9. By June 30, 2013, no child under six years of age will be placed in a placement other
than a family-like setting. Acceptable family-like settings include non-relative foster
care, Tribal foster care, kinship, emergency foster care, shelter host homes, TFC, and
lower levels of group home care that do not have shift workers. Exceptions are medical
facilities, inpatient care, and a group home or shelter where the young child is placed
with his/her minor mother who is also placed in care. This precludes a young child under
six years of age from placement in any shelter for an overnight stay, any congregate
care placement, OKDHS office, or other non-family-like setting. Any rare exception
must be approved by the regional director and documented in the child’s case file. The
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