1. A. It is the intent of the Legislature that Chapter 70 of this title shall be liberally construed, to the end that its purpose may be carried out.

2. B. The paramount consideration in all proceedings concerning a child alleged or found to be deprived is the health and safety and the best interests of the child. The purpose of the laws relating to children alleged or found to be deprived is to:

   1. 1. Secure for each such child, the permanency, care and guidance as will best serve the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health, safety and welfare of the child;
   2. 2. Provide expeditious and timely judicial and agency procedures which protect the health, safety and welfare of the child;
   3. 3. Preserve, unify and strengthen the child's family ties whenever possible in the child's best interests and for the health and safety of the child;
   4. 4. Except as otherwise specified by the Oklahoma Children's Code, provide that reasonable efforts are made to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the child from the home, or to make it possible for the child to safely return to the family's home;
   5. 5. Recognize that the right to family integrity, preservation or reunification is limited by the right of children to be protected from abuse and neglect;
   6. 6. Remove the child from the custody of the parents of the child when the child's health, safety or welfare is in danger or the child's safety cannot be adequately safeguarded without removal;
   7. 7. Recognize that permanency is in the best interests of the child;
   8. 8. Ensure that, in the best interests of the child, when family rehabilitation and reunification are not possible or are determined not to be necessary pursuant to the Oklahoma Children's Code, the child will be expeditiously placed with an adoptive family or in another permanent living arrangement; and
   9. 9. Assure adequate and appropriate care and treatment for the child, with the use of the least restrictive method of treatment or placement consistent with the treatment or placement needs of the child.

Laws 1968, SB 446, c. 282, § 129, eff. January 13, 1969; Amended by Laws 1982, HB 1468, c. 312, § 25, eff. October 1, 1982; Amended by Laws 1992, HB 1544, c. 298, § 31, emerg. eff. July 1, 1993; Amended by Laws 1994, HB 2640, c. 290, § 2, emerg. eff. July 1, 1994; Amended by Laws 1995, HB 1978, c. 352, § 2, emerg. eff. July 1, 1995; Renumbered from 10 O.S. § 1129 by Laws 1995, HB 1978, c. 352, § 199, emerg. eff. July 1, 1995; Amended by Laws 1998, SB 1224, c. 421, § 1, emerg. eff. June 11, 1998 (superseded document available).