Thank you for considering becoming a foster and/or adoptive parent. Your desire to share your love and your life with a child will create permanency for children that will last a lifetime. Please feel free to contact Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) at 1-866-242-9088 for more information regarding foster care and adoption in the state of Oklahoma. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the OKDHS website at www.okdhs.org.

Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption

Basic requirements include:

• You must be 21 years of age or older;
• You must be in reasonably good health;
• You can be single, married, divorced or widowed;
• You must have no history of alleged or confirmed child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse;
• You must have or provide sufficient beds and space for personal items for additional children;
• You must be able to manage your income to meet the financial needs of your family;
• You must be capable of understanding, loving and accepting a child. Your role is to provide protection and nurturance to the child/children placed in your care and to act as a role model; and
• If you have a spouse or partner, he or she is also required to participate in the home assessment process and to attend the twenty-seven (27) hour orientation session with you.

You must complete a Home Assessment, which includes:

• Completion of OKDHS forms and application;
• Reference checks;
• Background checks;
• Medical examination report;
• Fingerprinting;
• Family assessment, including interviews with all family members;
• Completion of twenty-seven (27) hours resource family orientation;
• House safety assessment;
• Verification of income sufficient to meet your needs;
• Verification of vaccination for pets; and
• Automobile insurance verification.

Does it Cost to Foster or Adopt?

It is always free to adopt or foster.

Parent Support Groups

One Church, One Child Family Ties Support Group

Contact person: Nikesia Miller

Child Development Center-Metro Technology Center

3901 Martin Luther King Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73111

1-800-865-0225

Oklahoma Therapeutic Foster Parent Association (a support group)

Contact: Laura Boyd

2801 Castlewood Drive

Norman, OK 73072

(405) 503-1123

Agency Contact and Orientation Information

You can work with DHS. To contact them, please call 1-866-242-9088.

Also, the following private agencies have programs and services for children in need of a permanent home. They work with many situations, including private adoption and adopting a child from foster care. They welcome you to contact them or view their website for additional information.

Private Adoption Agencies

Information on Children

There are 11,393 children in foster care in Oklahoma; 3,993 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.

Children come into the care of the OKDHS child welfare system due to abuse and/or neglect. Many are sibling groups and are from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Some of the children are already legally free for adoption. Others are not.