A. The Department of Human Services shall carefully define the children and youth programs of the Department as to their purpose, the population served, and performance expectations. Planning for new programs and services and major modifications to existing ones shall include evaluation of their effect on other programs and services and communication and coordination with other public and private children and youth service providers in order to assure successful and cost-effective implementation of the program. An evaluation component that includes monitoring and evaluation of client outcomes shall be incorporated into all of the Department's programs and services to children and youth, whether provided directly by the agency or through a contract.

1. All programs and services shall be designed to ensure the accessibility of the program to the persons served. Provision for transportation, child care and similar services necessary in order to assist persons to access the services shall be made. If the service is provided in an office setting, the service shall be available during the evening.

2. Programs and services shall be targeted to the areas of the state having the greatest need for them. The programs and services shall be designed to meet the needs of the area in which they are located. Programs and services intended for statewide implementation shall be implemented first in those areas that have the greatest need for them.

3. As a part of the Department's program planning and monitoring processes, the Department shall examine its programs and services to children and youth to ensure that the practices within them do not operate to detriment of minority children and youth.

4. All child care services and facilities operated by the Department shall be accredited by the National Council on Accreditation, when applicable.

B. The Department shall develop a five-year plan for children and youth services provided by the agency. The plan shall be reviewed annually and modified as necessary. Agency budget recommendations of the Department for services to children and youth shall be based upon documented needs, and the development of budget recommendations and priorities shall be closely integrated with agency and interagency program planning and management.

C. The Department shall annually review its programs and services and submit a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma, analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of the programs and services being carried out by the Department. Such report shall include, but not be limited to:

1. An analysis and evaluation of programs and services continued, established and discontinued during the period covered by the report;

2. A description of programs and services which should be implemented;

3. Statutory changes necessary;

4. Relevant information concerning the number of children in the Department's custody during the period covered by the report; and

5. Such other information as will enable a user of the report to ascertain the effectiveness of the Department's programs and services.

D. The Department shall, on or before January 31 of each year, submit a report to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Supreme Court which shall include:

1. Information concerning the number of children in the Department's custody that are placed in nonfamily settings, including but not limited to the types of settings utilized and the duration of the children's stays in such settings;

2. A census of approved foster homes and the number of children placed in those homes and a comparative review of foster home room-and-board rates; and

3. Information concerning child welfare staff workloads and comparative salaries for such staff.

Added by Laws 1991, H.J.R. No. 1038, § 3, p. 3201, emerg. eff. May 28, 1991. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 352, § 49, eff. July 1, 1995. Renumbered from § 603.3 of Title 10 by Laws 1995, c. 352, § 199, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2009, c. 233, § 61, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009. Renumbered from § 7004-1.3 of Title 10 by Laws 2009, c. 233, § 297, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009. Amended by Laws 2017, c. 342, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2017.