A single day can change a child’s life. Thanksgiving Day 2011 was a day that changed many children’s lives as families in Tulsa County opened their homes for children currently placed in the Laura Dester Shelter. Ashley Campbell and her family opened their home to two little boys. You can read her account of Thanksgiving Day 2011 here.

Christmas Day 2011 is quickly approaching. With so much success from Thanksgiving Day 2011, many counties are hoping that families will also open their homes for children placed in the shelters over Christmas. Please contact your local county to inquire about celebrating Christmas with children in foster care.

The Residential and Placement Services Unit of the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) has an opportunity to contract for two Specialized Community Homes for boys ages 13-18. A Specialized Community Home (SCH) is a familial structured program for four custody children operated by an individual in his/her own home. The operator provides cultural enrichment, independent living skills training consistent with each child’s treatment plan, accesses educational opportunities in public schools, and provides or obtains counseling for residents. 24-hour awake supervision is not provided.

Experienced foster parents may be interested in becoming a Specialized Community Home operator, especially if they have an interest or expertise in working with this population of boys. Children referred to SCH are typically stepping down from a group home setting and are able to attend public school.
Below are the general guidelines for prospective SCH providers:

The SCH contractor meets one of the education and experience qualifications listed below:

• (A) A Master or Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work degree or other related area of study and one year direct experience working with children with comparable treatment needs to those requiring treatment in the SCH.
• (B) A Bachelor in Social Work degree or other related area of study and two years direct experience working with children with comparable treatment needs to those requiring treatment in the SCH.
• (C) An Associate degree in a social service field and four years direct experience working with children with comparable treatment needs to those requiring treatment in the SCH; or
• (D) A high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) and six years of direct experience working with children with comparable treatment needs to those requiring treatment in the SCH plus training hours pertinent to residential child care.

The SCH contractor receives a yearly salary and is not allowed other employment outside of the operation of the SCH contract. They are not eligible for paid day care. If it is a 2 parent household, one parent is identified as the contractor and must be a stay at home parent. It is also preferable that other children not reside in the home.

SCH contractors must complete all training requirements for OKDHS foster parents, be certified in a behavior management system directed at managing aggressive and non-aggressive acting out behavior. Spouses or significant others must also be certified. They must obtain 21 hours of training each calendar year geared toward working with the children served in the SCH contract, attend the annual mandatory meetings for SCH contractors scheduled by CFSD that provide training hours and participate in other training curricula required of OKDHS foster parents. They will be asked to identify a respite provider. The SCH operator cannot be related, either directly or through marriage, to an OJA employee, a CFSD or CW employee in the county where the SCH home is located or an OKDHS employee who substantially influenced the funding of the contract.

For more information concerning becoming a Specialized Community Home Operator contact the Residential and Placement Services Unit at (405)521-3963.