Governor’s working group issues suggestions to improve Arkansas’ foster care system

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

A working group of more than 130 Arkansans with experience in child welfare and foster care released a list of 11 recommendations on Monday to improve the state’s foster system, which has long suffered from staffing and home shortages.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders created the working group by executive order in February. The group included the secretaries of education and public safety, mental health professionals and Every Child Arkansas, a statewide network of organizations that recruit and support foster families.

The group split into three subcommittees that each came up with recommendations, according to Monday’s report:

• Prevention and mental health services

• Foster care safety and permanency

• Foster home recruitment and retention

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-09-19/governors-working-group-issues-suggestions-to-improve-arkansas-foster-care-system

KATV-TV

The office of the Arkansas Department of Human Service in Little Rock.

Foster care graduates celebrated at Governors Mansion

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Young adults who grew up in foster care were honored at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion on Thursday. There were 74 young adults in the foster care system that graduated from high school or received their GED, according to a program from the event.

The graduation ceremony was hosted by the Arkansas Division of Children & Family Services. Mischa Martin, director of the Division of Children & Family Services, said in an interview the event is a way to bring together the children in the foster care system.

“We just like to come together even though they probably celebrated at the local level to do something special for them to really recognize the challenges they face to finish and make them feel valued and special. They'll walk away with a gift card and some gifts from our nonprofit as well,” Martin said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-06-30/foster-care-graduates-celebrated-at-governors-mansion

Ronak Patel/KUAR News

Gov. Asa Hutchinson shares words of encouragement with graduates. Hutchinson spoke with some of the graduates before the ceremony about their future plans.