Best Interests of the Child

Statute: Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 10, § 7202(2), (5), (10)(a) (West Supp. 1999)

Law:

The State has an interest in and a responsibility to children whose parents do not adequately provide proper care, supervision and protection for them. When circumstances within a family threaten a child's safety or welfare, or when such circumstances deprive a child of proper parental supervision, the State's interest in the child's welfare and in the protection of the public takes precedence over the natural right and authority of the parent.

Each child shall be assured the care, guidance, and supervision in a permanent home or foster home which will serve the best interests of the child's moral, emotional, mental, social, and physical well-being.

The best interests of the child shall be the standard for recommendations made by the Department of Human Services and the courts for deprived action determinations with regard to whether a child should be reunified with the child's family, should be permanently removed from the home, or should remain in the home in which the child has been abused or neglected.

Concurrent Planning

Statute: Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 10, § 7003-5.5(B) (West, WESTLAW through 2000 1st Ex. Sess.)

Law:

If the child is removed from the custody of the child's parent, the court, or the Department of Human Services, as applicable, shall immediately consider concurrent permanency planning, so that permanency may occur at the earliest opportunity. Consideration should be given so that if reunification fails or is delayed, the placement made is the best available placement to provide permanency for the child.