Okla. Stat. tit. 10A, § 10A-1-9-121: Grandparents - Legislative findings and declaration -

Informational and educational program - Distribution of

informational brochures.

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.