A. The Oklahoma Legislature finds and declares that:

1. An increasing number of children under the age of eighteen (18) years, including many children who would otherwise be at risk of abuse or neglect, are in the care of a grandparent;

2. A principal cause for this increase is an increase in the incidence of parental substance abuse, child abuse, mental illness, poverty, and death, as well as concerted efforts by families and by the child welfare service system to keep children with relatives whenever possible;

3. Grandparents providing primary care for at-risk children may experience unique resultant problems, such as financial stress due to limited incomes, emotional difficulties related to dealing with the loss of the child's parents or to the child's unique behaviors, and decreased physical stamina combined with a much higher incidence of chronic illness;

4. Many children being raised by grandparents experience one or more of a combination of emotional, behavioral, psychological, academic, or medical problems, especially those born to a substance-abusing mother or those who are at risk of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment; and

5. Grandparents providing primary care for children lack appropriate information about the issues of kinship care, the special needs, both physical and psychological, of children born to a substance-abusing mother or who are at risk of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and the support resources currently available to them.

B. The Department of Human Services shall establish an informational and educational program including, but not limited to, the area of parental substitute authority, for grandparents who provide primary care for children who are at risk of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment or who were born to substance-abusing mothers. As a part of the program, the Department shall develop, publish, and distribute an informational brochure for grandparents who provide primary care for children who are at risk of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment or who were born to substance-abusing mothers. The information provided under the program authorized by this section may include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. The problems experienced by children being raised by grandparents;

2. The problems experienced by grandparents providing primary care for children who have special needs;

3. The legal system as it relates to children and grandparents;

4. The benefits available to children and grandparents providing primary care; and

5. A list of support groups and resources located throughout the state.

C. The brochure may be distributed through hospitals, public health nurses, child protective services, medical professional offices, elementary and secondary schools, senior citizen centers, public libraries, and community action agencies selected by the Department.

Added by Laws 1997, c. 389, § 18, eff. Nov. 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 414, § 13, emerg. eff. June 11, 1998. Renumbered from § 7220 of Title 10 by Laws 2009, c. 233, § 313, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009.