Arkansas: A Review of DCFS

“A review of Arkansas’ child welfare system says the state places a high importance on children who are in the system, but that the Division of Children and Family Services faces challenges ranging from finding enough foster homes to conflict with courts that handle juvenile and family matters.

The report by The Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group released Thursday was commissioned in March by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Among the recommendations is to increase the use of a child’s relatives as caregivers, find a way to expedite the process of filling staff vacancies, reduce staff caseloads, expand mental health services into homes and communities and develop a strategy to improve the relationship between the division and the courts.

Hutchinson on Thursday said the state would adopt the recommendations. ”

Study of child welfare system in Arkansas is released [KY3 7/18/15]

Here is the report: The Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group 7/6/15.

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