Helpful Resources

The Arkansas Relatives Guide gives basic information on the initial removal of a child, licensing standards, your role as a relative, etc.

It's a general FAQ page dedicated to answering questions about the foster care process. It's a great resource for new relative caregivers interested in caring for a loved one.

As allowed within Act 363 (SB346) sponsored by Senator Hester and Representative Fite, a relative or fictive kin who has his or her home opened as a provisional foster home may receive a board payment from the department for no more than six (6) months unless fully opened as a foster home. Provisional relative/fictive kin parents will get the full board payment for that six month period (or until they become fully approved). Once fully-approved as foster parents, they continue to receive a board payment.
 
Effective date for this was August 1, 2023, with the first payments going out in September for those August placements.

This helpful tool, provided by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, provides step by step information regarding how a relative or fictive kin can become a provisional foster parent once a 72 hour hold has been taken by DCFS. 

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Click the photo above to view the document.