Oklahoma Statutes
Title 10A. Children and Juvenile Code
§10A-1-4-707. Dispositional orders - Determinations.

A. The following kinds of dispositional orders may be made and shall be in accordance with the best interests of the child:

1.a.The court may place the child under protective supervision by the Department of Human Services in the home of the child with the parent or legal guardian with whom the child was residing at the time the events or conditions arose that brought the child within the jurisdiction of the court, subject to such conditions as the court may prescribe that would reasonably prevent the child from continuing to be deprived.
2.a.If the court is unable to place the child in the home of a parent, the court shall give a preference for placing temporary custody of the child with a relative as specified in Section 1-4-204 of this title, subject to the best interests of the child and the conditions and restrictions specified in Section 1-4-705 of this title. In determining whether to place temporary custody of the child with a relative, the court may consider the following factors:
3.a.The court may place the child in the custody of a private institution or agency, including any institution established and operated by the county, authorized to care for children or to place them in family homes.
4. The court may place the child in the custody of the Department.
5. The court may order the Department to coordinate the provision of services provided by other agencies in order that the court-approved permanency plan may be achieved.
6.a.If the court determines that reunification services are appropriate for the child and a parent, the court shall allow reasonable visitation with the parent or legal guardian from whose custody the child was removed, unless visitation is not in the best interest of the child, taking into consideration:
7. The court may order a permanent guardianship to be established as more fully set forth in Section 1-4-709 of this title.
8. Except as otherwise provided by law, the court may dismiss the petition and terminate its jurisdiction at any time for good cause shown when doing so is in the best interests of the child.
B. Any order entered pursuant to this section shall include:
1. A statement informing the child's parent that the consequences of noncompliance with the requirement of the court may include termination of the parent's rights with respect to the child; or
2. A statement informing the child's legal guardian or custodian that the consequences of noncompliance with the requirement of the court may include removal of the child from the custody of the legal guardian or custodian.
C. 1. In any dispositional order removing a child from the home of the child, the court shall make a determination as to whether, in accordance with the best interests and the health, safety, or welfare of the child, reasonable efforts have been made to provide for the safe return of the child to the child's own home.
2. If reasonable efforts are required for the safe return of the child to the child's home, the court shall allow the parent of the child not less than three (3) months to correct the conditions which led to the adjudication of the child as a deprived child; however, the time period for reunification services may not exceed seventeen (17) months from the date that the child was initially removed from the child's home, absent a finding of compelling reasons to the contrary.
3. If the court finds that continuation of reasonable efforts to return the child home are inconsistent with the permanency plan for a child, the court shall determine whether reasonable efforts have been made to complete the steps necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child.
4. Reasonable efforts to reunite the child with the child's family shall not be required pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-4-809 of this title.
D. In any dispositional order involving a child sixteen (16) years of age or older, the court shall make a determination, where appropriate, of the services needed to assist the child to make the transition from out-of-home care to independent living.
E. In accordance with the safety or well-being of any child, the court shall determine in any dispositional order whether reasonable efforts have been made to:
1. Place siblings, who have been removed, together in the same foster care, guardianship, or adoptive placement; and
2. Provide for frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction in the case of siblings who have been removed and who are not placed together.
Added by Laws 2009, c. 233, § 121, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009. Amended by Laws 2019, c. 297, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.

Structure Oklahoma Statutes