1. The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth shall issue a request for proposals on or before July 1, 2012, and each July 1 thereafter for which the Oklahoma Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program is funded, seeking applications to administer the Oklahoma Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program.

2. The Department of Central Services shall work in conjunction with the Commission to coordinate a competitive bid process.

3. The Commission, in coordination with the Department of Central Services, shall review the applications for compliance with the established requirements.

4. Entities eligible to submit applications to administer the Oklahoma Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program shall be limited to nonprofit organizations or programs which are exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 501 (c)(3) and which otherwise meet the requirements set forth in paragraph 5 of this section.

5. The Commission may approve an application that meets the requirements set forth in this subsection and as established by the Commission. The approved applicant shall provide one-to-one mentoring services to children of incarcerated parents who are in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs and currently placed outside the home, or have been identified by the Office of Juvenile Affairs as at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. The selected applicant shall:

a.currently serve youth ages 6-18,

b.have a statewide presence,

c.currently provide one-to-one mentoring to children of incarcerated parents,

d.have served children of incarcerated parents for five (5) years or more,

e.have rigorous volunteer application and screening processes,

f.have child safety policies and procedures,

g.measure performance outcomes via multiple tools,

h.have five (5) years or more of performance outcome data,

i.provide ongoing safety training and diversity training for program staff,

j.have an established working relationship with the Office of Juvenile Affairs,

k.set match-retention-rate goals,

l.have experience working with high-risk populations, and

m.deliver contracted services at a cost no greater than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per mentor-mentee match.

6. On or before July 1, 2012, and each July 1 thereafter for which the Oklahoma Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program is funded, the Office of Juvenile Affairs shall forward applications that the Office of Juvenile Affairs has determined meet the requirements of this section to the Commission. On or before November 1, 2012, and each November thereafter for which the Oklahoma Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program is funded, the Commission shall award, through a competitive bid process, one grant to one applicant to provide one-to-one mentoring services to children of incarcerated parents who either are in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs and currently placed outside the home or have been identified by the Office of Juvenile Affairs as at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system.

7. In addition to the grant funding, the Commission shall be authorized to provide other appropriate assistance to the selected applicant.

8. The Commission shall be authorized to promulgate rules and establish procedures necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

9. The Department of Central Services shall work in conjunction with the Commission to implement the provisions of this act.

Added by Laws 2012, c. 353, § 11, emerg. eff. June 8, 2012.

NOTE: Paragraphs 1 through 9 of this section should be subsections A through I and subparagraphs a through m of paragraph 5 should be paragraphs 1 through 13 of subsection E.