Providing Adoptive Parents With Information About Adoptees and Their Birth Families - Oklahoma

Agency or Person Preparing the Report

Citation: Ann. Stat. Tit. 10, § 7504-1.1

Before placing a minor for adoption, the Department of Human Services or a child-placing agency shall compile a written medical and social history report of the minor to be adopted. If a minor is not being placed for adoption through the department or a child-placing agency, the attorney representing the adoptive parent in the adoption proceedings shall compile the report. If the adoptive parent is not represented by an attorney in a direct-placement adoption, the person placing the minor for adoption shall compile the report.

The department shall prescribe the form to be used to record the medical history of the minor and the minor's biological relatives. The department shall furnish the forms to any child-placing agency and to any person who is authorized to place a minor for adoption, or who provides services with respect to placements for adoption.

Contents of Report About the Adopted Person

Citation: Ann. Stat. Tit. 10, § 7504-1.1

The medical history shall include, but is not limited to, the current medical and psychological histories of the child, including information concerning the following:

• Any prenatal, neonatal, medical, dental, psychiatric, or psychological diagnoses, examinations, or reports
• Any diseases, illnesses, accidents, allergies, and congenital or birth defects
• A record of any immunization and other health care received
• The child's developmental history, including the ages at which the child developed basic gross motor, fine motor, language, and cognitive skills
• Any behavioral problems the child has exhibited
• Any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse suffered by the child
• Any other information necessary to determine the child's eligibility for State or Federal benefits, including subsidies for adoption and other financial, medical, or similar assistance

The social history report shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Educational history, including enrollment and performance in school; the results of educational testing; special educational needs, if any; and the number of years of school completed at the time of the adoption
• The age of the child at the time of the adoption
• The circumstances leading to the adoption
• The heritage of the child including nationality; ethnic background; Tribal affiliation, if any; and race
• The talents, hobbies, and special interests of the child
• An account of the child's past and existing relationships with any individual with whom he or she has regularly lived or visited
• A criminal conviction or delinquency adjudication of the child

Contents of Report About the Birth Family

Citation: Ann. Stat. Tit. 10, § 7504-1.1

Medical history and psychological histories shall include relevant information about the birth parents and relatives, including the following:

• The obstetric history and health of the birth mother during her pregnancy
• The consumption of drugs, medication, or alcohol by the birth father or mother at the time of conception and by the mother during her pregnancy
• The exposure of the mother to toxic substances or occupational hazards during her pregnancy
• Whether the birth parents are related to each other and to what degree
• Any history of venereal disease afflicting either birth parent
• Physical characteristics, including age at the time of the child's birth; height; weight; and color of eyes, hair, and skin
• Potentially inheritable psychological or physical diseases, disorders, traits, or tendencies
• Allergies, illnesses, and other medical history
• Any addiction or predisposition to addiction to drugs or alcohol
• If the death of either birth parent, other children of either birth parent, or a birth grandparent has occurred, the fact of the death, age at the time of death, and the cause, if known

The social history report regarding the birth parents and other birth relatives shall include the following:

• The ages of the birth parents, existence of other children of either parent, names of birth grandparents, and genders of the other children of either birth parent
• The occupations, talents, hobbies, and special interests of the birth parents and grandparents
• Nonidentifying information about the extended family of the birth parents and grandparents
• The level of educational and vocational achievement of birth parents and relatives
• A criminal conviction, judicial order terminating parental rights, or other proceeding in which a birth parent was alleged to have abused, neglected, abandoned, or otherwise mistreated the child, a sibling, or the other birth parent

When the Report Is Made

Citation: Ann. Stat. Tit. 10, § 7504-1.1

The report must be completed before placing a minor for adoption.

Exceptions for Stepparent or Relative Adoptions

Citation: Ann. Stat. Tit. 10, § 7504-1.1

If the petitioner is a stepparent of the child and the child will remain in the custody of one birth parent and the stepparent following the adoption, only the medical and social histories of the parent whose parental rights are sought to be terminated and that parent's birth relatives must be compiled in the report on medical and social histories.

If the petitioner is related to the child, only the medical and social histories of the parent who is not related to the petitioner and the birth relatives of that parent must be completed in the report on medical and social histories.