340:10-18-1 Conditions of eligibility for children's support service funds
(a) Scope. Support service funds may be provided to families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to promote family stability and assist in the prevention of Child Welfare Services involvement when funds are not available through other sources. Refer to Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) Appendix H-4-A, Support Services Funds, and Appendix H-4-C, Child Incentives, for a list of services and the maximum amount that may be spent per service. (b) Support service funds. Payments for the services through support service funds are not an automatic entitlement to the child(ren). The worker determines on a case-by-case basis, whether to authorize payments and services. The field manager or designee is responsible for periodically monitoring expenditures from the support service account. (1) The worker does not approve support service funds for: (A) fines, including traffic fines or any cost related to a criminal offense, such as legal fees or court costs; (B) items and services covered by SoonerCare (Medicaid); (C) ongoing household expenses, such as, but not limited to, rent, utilities, and car payments; or (D) payments to reimburse the client or another person for the cost of services already paid. (2) Before authorizing payment for support service funds, the worker: (A) determines if the service is available through any other resource. Resources may include other OKDHS programs, local churches, and civic groups; and (B) negotiates for goods and services for the child(ren) for the least possible cost. The negotiated amounts must not include state or local sales taxes. (3) Payments of specific services are allowed only after the service is rendered. (c) Child incentive funds. Child incentives are available for children pre-K through grade 12 based on funding availability. Payments for the child incentives are not an automatic entitlement to the child(ren). The worker determines on a case-by-case basis whether to authorize payments. The field manager or designee is responsible for periodically monitoring expenditures from the child incentive account.