Okla. Stat. tit. 10A, § 10A-1-9-120v1

children.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 10A. Children and Juvenile Code Page 253

A. The Office of Client Advocacy and child-placing agencies

shall each establish grievance procedures for foster parents with

whom the Department of Human Services or child-placing agencies

contract and for foster children in Department custody. The Office

of Client Advocacy shall work with the Office of Juvenile System

Oversight to track foster parent or foster child complaints through

the grievance procedures and ensure a resolution of the complaint.

B. The procedures established shall contain the following

minimum requirements:

1. Resolution of disputes with foster parents or foster

children shall be accomplished quickly, informally and at the lowest

possible level, but shall provide for access to impartial

arbitration by management level personnel within the central office;

2. Prompt resolution of grievances no more than sixty (60) days

after receipt of the grievance or complaint; and

3. Notification to all foster parents and foster children if

age-appropriate upon placement of a child about the grievance

procedures and how to file a complaint.

C. The Office of Client Advocacy and child-placing agency shall

designate one employee at the central office to receive and process

foster care grievances received by the Office of Juvenile System

Oversight.

D. The Office of Client Advocacy and child-placing agency shall

maintain records of each grievance filed as well as summary

information about the number, nature and outcome of all grievances

filed. The Office of Client Advocacy and the Office of Juvenile

System Oversight shall compile an annual report for the Oklahoma

Legislature that details the number of complaints received, the

number of complaints resolved, the nature of the complaints and any

other information requested by the Legislature. Agencies shall keep

records of grievances separate and apart from other foster parent or

foster child files. A foster parent, former foster parent, or a

foster child or former foster child shall have a right of access to

the record of grievances such person filed after the procedure has

been completed.

E. 1. Each foster parent or foster child shall have the right,

without fear of reprisal or discrimination, to present grievances

with respect to the providing or receiving of foster care services.

2. The Department of Human Services shall promptly initiate a

plan of corrective discipline including, but not limited to,

dismissal of any Department employee or cancellation or nonrenewal

of the contract of a child-placing agency determined by the state

agency, through an investigation to have retaliated or discriminated

against a foster parent or foster child who has:

a. filed a grievance pursuant to the provisions of this

section,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 10A. Children and Juvenile Code Page 254

b. provided information to any official or Department

employee, or

c. testified, assisted, or otherwise participated in an

investigation, proceeding or hearing against the

Department or the child-placing agency.

3. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to

include any complaint by the foster parent or foster child resulting

from an administrative, civil or criminal action taken by the

employee or child-placing agency for violations of law or rules, or

contract provisions by the foster parent.