Library: Policy

340:75-7-292. Foster parent complaints about DHS or child placing employees made to the Office of Juvenile System Oversight

Issued 11-17-14

(a) The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, Office of Juvenile System Oversight (OJSO), receives any complaint alleging an employee of the Department of Human Services (DHS) or a child-placing agency has threatened a foster parent with removal of a child from the foster parent, harassed a foster parent, refused to place a child in a licensed or certified foster home, or disrupted a child placement as retaliation or discrimination toward a foster parent who has:

(1) filed a grievance pursuant to Section 1-9-120 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-9-120);
(2) provided information to any state official or DHS employee; or
(3) testified, assisted, or otherwise participated in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing against the DHS or child-placing agency.

(b) OJSO forwards complaints to the DHS Office of Client Advocacy (OCA) for investigation per 10A O.S. § 1-9-112. OJSO works with OCA to ensure the complaints are investigated and resolved in accordance with the grievance procedures provided in 10A O.S. § 1-9-120. This does not apply to any complaint by a foster parent regarding the result of a criminal, administrative, or civil proceeding for a violation of any law, rule, or contract provision by that foster parent, or the action taken by DHS or a child-placing agency in conformity with the result of any such proceeding.