Library: Policy
340:75-7-14. Training requirements
Revised 10-22-24
(a) Pre-service training. Per Section 1-9-116 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-9-116), applicants, excluding kinship, and adult household members who care for a child in Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) custody are required to complete a prescribed course of training, prior to resource approval. The training incorporates the reasonable and prudent parent standard and addresses the values and guiding principles essential for caring for a child, who is a victim of maltreatment. Pre-service training is required for any family subject to the Resource Family Assessment process, per OAC 340:75-7-18, to include families approved to provide: traditional foster care, supported foster care, therapeutic foster care, intensive treatment family care, or contracted foster care. • 1 An applicant may request a training waiver. The resource field manager approves or denies a request for a training waiver. The applicant may request a waiver when an individual has:
(1) t completed the equivalent training within the last five years. A list of equivalent training from a tribe, private agency, or another state is included that details subjects addressed in the training; or
(2) a significant disability that precludes the completion of training. Disability verification is provided by a physician. A person granted a permanent training waiver for disabilities may not be a caregiver for the child in OKDHS custody.
(b) Kinship training. Kinship training is required for any family subject to the Kinship Resource Family Assessment process, per OAC 340:75-7-24. • 2
(1) A resource parent providing kinship foster care completes the training developed by OKDHS for kinship foster care prior to placement, per 10A O.S. § 1-9-116. Training cannot take place later than one hundred twenty-calendar days after placement of the child with the kinship foster parent.
(2) The training incorporates the reasonable and prudent parent standard and addresses the values and guiding principles essential for caring for a child who is a victim of maltreatment.
(3) The kinship resource parent is eligible to receive payment for providing foster care services upon Kinship Final Approval from OKDHS per OAC 340: 75-7-24.
(c) In-service training. Each resource parent completes continuing in-service training per year to enhance his or her skills as a provider. • 3
(1) OKDHS provides free in-service training options for the resource parent.
(2) With CWS approval, other training is accepted as credit toward in-service training requirements. The resource parent provides the resource specialist with the training certificate, when available, from the training source that lists completed, approved hours.
(3) The resource parent selects from training options, such as classes, conferences, reading materials, or other learning opportunities that enhance his or her skills and meet the in-service training requirement. The resource parent receives approval for each training option from the resource specialist.
(4) A resource parent residing in another state and caring for a child in OKDHS custody meets the requirements of his or her state of residence for ongoing training to maintain OKDHS approval as a resource parent.
INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-7-14
Revised 10-22-24
1. Pre-service training.
(1) Training schedule. A pre-service training schedule is maintained in the Child Abuse and Neglect Information System KIDS.
(A) The resource field manager may request additional resource family training sessions through resource program staff in the current or subsequent training quarter as-needed. Requests are honored as resources allow.
(B) For training to occur, a training session must have at least 12 participants enrolled and confirmed. When participation in the initial training session is less than 12 persons, class suspension is considered.
(2) Enrollment. The resource specialist enrolls the applicant in pre-service training in KIDS.
2. Kinship training and requests for training waiver.
(1) The resource specialist enrolls the applicant in kinship training. The resource specialist documents twelve hours of kinship training in KIDS within 120-calendar days of placement for each resource parent and caregiving adult household member to ensure compliance, per Section 1-9-116 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-9-116).
(2) The resource field manager approves or denies a request for a permanent training waiver. The applicant may request a permanent waiver when an individual:
(A) has a significant disability that precludes the completion of training. Disability verification is provided by a physician. A person granted a permanent training waiver for disabilities may not be a caregiver for the child in OKDHS custody; or
(B) may be determined to possess required values and guiding principles as a result of prior foster care training and experience.
3. In-service training. The resource specialist documents each training the resource parent completes in the KIDS Resource or verifies the training tracked by KIDS.
(1) A family that is approved to provide foster care services, per OAC 340:75-7-18, including families approved to provide traditional foster care services, therapeutic foster care services, intensive treatment family care, or contracted foster care must complete a minimum of 12 hours of ongoing training per calendar year.
(2) A family approved to provide only kinship foster care services, per OAC 340:75-7-24, is required to complete a minimum number of six in-service training hours per calendar year after the first year unless required in a written plan of compliance per OAC 340:75-7-94 or as needed for care of the kinship child. Kinship foster parents have the same options to attend any training offered to foster parents approved per OAC 340:75-7-18.
