Guidelines for Children Left Alone - okdhs.org

1 Idelines or Chi dren e Alone okdhs Pul>. 1' Issued 4/2001 This publiC:Hion is aUlhorized by dle I-Ium:tn Services Commission in 3ccordal1c~wilh 5131(' 3ud rcdcral regulalioll5 and prinl-:d by the Okhhoma Dcpanmelll of Hllman Ser"ice, a< a C051 or 52, for 11,950 copic.>. Copies have b n deposi d wilh Ihe J'lIblicalioJlS Clearinghollse or ,he Okbhon" DcpannlClH ofLib"rics. okdhs > ma)' rcqlle5l copics Oil ADM-9 elcclronic SlIppl)' ordm. Members of ,he public rna)' obtain copi'" by comacling ,he okdhs Reco"ls Cemer ar (405) 962 \72\ Of 1 877 283 4113 (lOll free). GiidelinesFor ChildrenLeft AloneGuidelinesForChildren left Alone Oklahoma Department of Human Services In Oklahoma there are no statutory or public policy requirements regarding the age a child must be in order to be left Alone . The safety and well being of Children is considered to be a parental responsibility and it is a parental decision to determine that his/her child, six years of age or older, is mature enough to care for himself/herself in the absence of an adult.

2 Considerations When Leaving A Child Alone : 1. Does the child have the maturity to be left Alone , regardless of the child's age? 2. How long will the child be Alone ? 3. Will the child be Alone during the day or at night? 4. Is the surrounding neighborhood safe? 5. Is there immediate access to an adult? 6. Does the child have the knowledge to know what to do in an emergency? 7. Is the child caring for other Children ? 8. Does the child know how to use household appliances properly? 9. Are other Children visiting in the home? 10. Does the child know the parents' whereabouts at all times? 11. Is the child comfortable being left Alone ? .:..:..:. Child Protective Services Response to Reports of Children left Alone The focus of okdhs Child Welfare Services is to respond to situations where Children are reported to be unsafe or at risk of harm.

3 Action is contingent upon the age of the child and the degree of danger. okdhs staff cannot remove Children from their home, however, if it is determined that a child cannot take care of himself/herself and there is no responsible adult available, the child may be placed into police protective custody. Recommended Guidelines for Parental Decision Making Pre-School/Kindergarten Infants and Children under six years of age should never be left Alone without adult supervision. Grade School In general, grade school Children who demonstrate the ability to be responsible and mature may be left Alone one-two hours during the day with access to a responsible adult and not caring for younger Children . Middle School In general, middle school Children who demonstrate the ability to be self sufficient may be left Alone for up to four hours during day and evening hours.

4 They may care for one-two younger Children if there is constant access to a responsible adult. In Oklahoma there are no statutory or public policy requirements regarding the age a child must be in order to be left Alone . The safety and well being of Children is considered to be a parental responsibility and it is a parental decision to determine that his/her child, six years of age or older, is mature enough to care for himself/herself in the absence of an adult. Considerations When Leaving A Child Alone : 1. Does the child have the maturity to be left Alone , regardless of the child's age? 2. How long will the child be Alone ? 3. Will the child be Alone during the day or at night? 4. Is the surrounding neighborhood safe? 5. Is there immediate access to an adult? 6. Does the child have the knowledge to know what to do in an emergency?

5 7. Is the child caring for other Children ? 8. Does the child know how to use household appliances properly? 9. Are other Children visiting in the home? 10. Does the child know the parents' whereabouts at all times? 11. Is the child comfortable being left Alone ? Recommended Guidelines for Parental Decision Making Pre-School/Kindergarten .:. Infants and Children under six years of age should never be left Alone without adult supervision. Grade School .:. In general, grade school Children who demonstrate the ability to be responsible and mature may be left Alone one-two hours during the day with access to a responsible adult and not caring for younger Children . during Middle School .:. In general, middle school Children who demonstrate the ability to be self sufficient may be left Alone for up to four hours day and evening hours.

6 They may care for one-two younger Children if there is constant access to a responsible adult. Child Protective Services Response to Reports of Children left Alone The focus of okdhs Child Welfare Services is to respond to situations where Children are reported to be unsafe or at risk of harm. Action is contingent upon the age of the child and the degree of danger. okdhs staff cannot remove Children from their home, however, if it is determined that a child cannot take care of himself/herself and there is no responsible adult available, the child may be placed into police protective custody. Recommended Guidelines for Parental Decision Making Pre-School/Kindergarten .:. Infants and Children under six years of age should never be left Alone without adult supervision. Grade School .:. In general, grade school Children who demonstrate the ability to be responsible and mature may be left Alone one-two hours during the day with access to a responsible adult and not caring for younger Children .

7 Middle School .:. In general, middle school Children who demonstrate the ability to be self sufficient may be left Alone for up to four hours during day and evening hours. They may care for one-two younger Children if there is constant access to a responsible adult. Child Protective Services Response to Reports of Children left Alone The focus of okdhs Child Welfare Services is to respond to situations where Children are reported to be unsafe or at risk of harm. Action is contingent upon the age of the child and the degree of danger. okdhs staff cannot remove Children from their home, however, if it is determined that a child cannot take care of himself/herself and there is no responsible adult available, the child may be placed into police protective custody. In Oklahoma there are no statutory or public policy requirements regarding the age a child must be in order to be left Alone .

8 The safety and well being of Children is considered to be a parental responsibility and it is a parental decision to determine that his/her child, six years of age or older, is mature enough to care for himself/herself in the absence of an adult. Considerations When Leaving A Child Alone : 1. Does the child have the maturity to be left Alone , regardless of the child's age? 2. How long will the child be Alone ? 3. Will the child be Alone during the day or at night? 4. Is the surrounding neighborhood safe? 5. Is there immediate access to an adult? 6. Does the child have the knowledge to know what to do in an emergency? 7. Is the child caring for other Children ? 8. Does the child know how to use household appliances properly? 9. Are other Children visiting in the home? 10. Does the child know the parents' whereabouts at all times?

9 11. Is the child comfortable being left Alone ? idelines or Chi dren e Alone GiidelinesFor ChildrenLeft AloneOklahoma Department of Human Services okdhs Pul>. 1' Issued 4/2001 This publiC:Hion is aUlhorized by dle I-Ium:tn Services Commission in 3ccordal1c~wilh 5131(' 3ud rcdcral regulalioll5 and prinl-:d by the Okhhoma Dcpanmelll of Hllman Ser"ice, a< a C051 or 52, for 11,950 copic.>. Copies have b n deposi d wilh Ihe J'lIblicalioJlS Clearinghollse or ,he Okbhon" DcpannlClH ofLib"rics. okdhs > ma)' rcqlle5l copics Oil ADM-9 elcclronic SlIppl)' ordm. Members of ,he public rna)' obtain copi'" by comacling ,he okdhs Reco"ls Cemer ar (405) 962 \72\ Of 1 877 283 4113 (lOll free). Children left Alone GuidelinesFor Children LeftAloneChildren left AloneOklahoma DepartmentofHuman ServicesOKDHS Pub. No. 03 24 Issued 4/2004 This publication is authorized by the Human ServicesCommission in accordance with state and federal regulationsand printed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services ata cost of $2, for 11,950 copies.

10 Copies have beendeposited with the Publications Clearinghouse of the OklahomaDepartment of Libraries. okdhs offices may request copies onADM 9 electronic supply orders. Members of the public mayobtain copies by contacting the okdhs Records Center at (405)962 1721 or 1 877 283 4113 (toll free).