Arkansas
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Pre-Service Training

All prospective resource and adoptive families are required to complete the 14-hour Connecting AR Families training. This training uses the National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents (NTDC). Resource families are required to have 6 hours of continuing education annually.

Kinship families, which includes relatives and fictive kin, are required to complete 12 hours of training, which is called AR Kinship Connect.

Services Offered Through the State’s Post-Permanency Support Program

DCFS’s regional Adoption Specialists assist adoptive and guardianship families who request support by providing the following post-permanency services.

Services include:

If a family requests to have a supportive services case opened, an Adoption Specialist will provide in-home case management. This service may include referrals to community-based providers, advocacy with Medicaid, and assistance in finding residential or acute treatment or other supports as identified by the family. All case management services are voluntary, and the family may choose to close their case at any time.

Adoption Specialists can help families locate and pay for respite, even if the family is not receiving case management services. DCFS provides funding and referrals to private licensed placement agencies or therapeutic licensed foster care providers to find respite homes. There is no limit to how long respite care can be provided.

Once a biological parent’s rights are terminated, they may elect to have their name and contact information listed on a mutual consent registry should their child or children seek to contact them after they reach age 18 years. DCFS staff ensure both parties have the correct forms filled out and provide each party with the contact information listed.

For more information, visit

https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/children-family-services/post-adoption-resources/

Geographic Area Covered

DCFS Adoption Specialists are located in all regions of the state and provide the same services statewide.

Eligible Population for the Overall Post-Permanency Program

  • All families who adopted from the state’s foster care system

  • All families who adopted through intercountry adoption

  • All families who adopted through private adoption

  • All families who adopted from foster care in other states, territories, or tribes

  • All families who have guardianship of a child from foster care

  • All families who have guardianship of a child not through foster care

Variations in Eligibility for the Post-Permanency Program

Information not available.

Accessibility

DCFS employs bilingual staff and has translation services available, when needed.

Outreach and Engagement

Prior to finalization of an adoption or guardianship, all families are provided information regarding DCFS Adoption Specialists and a list of services/providers in their area.

DCFS has recognized a need for more outreach and connection to post-permanency families and is currently implementing an online adoption hub that families can use to find resources and services.

How the Post-Permanency Program Is Operated

  • By specialized state post-permanency support workers

Notes About Who Provides Which Service(s)

All services are provided by state staff.

Adoption/Guardianship Assistance/Subsidy Review and Changes

Families receiving guardianship subsidies receive an annual review letter to verify that their circumstances haven’t changed. Adoptive families receive notification of how to request an extension of benefits or notification subsidy benefits end before the child turns 18.

Adoption or guardianship assistance agreements can be changed at any time. Adoptive parents or guardians must submit a written request to the local DCFS Adoption Specialist.

Tracking Adoption/Guardianship Discontinuity

DCFS staff receive data on re-entry on a regular basis, and staff pay particular attention to the age of the child or youth, if services were requested or provided, and the reason why the child or youth returned to care. This information is shared with Adoption Specialists, as well as used to modify policies and procedures as needed.

Post-Permanency Program Spending (FY 2023)

Information not available.

Funding Sources for the Post-Permanency Program (FY 2023)

Information not available.

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