Lawmakers Hear Updates on Foster Care, Garrett’s Law During Youth Committee Meeting
Little Rock, AR – December 2, 2024
The Arkansas Joint Committee on Children and Youth convened December 2 for updates on the state’s foster care system and the implementation of Garrett’s Law. Representative Julie Mayberry chaired the meeting in the absence of Senator Bryan King and Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker. Discussions highlighted progress in reducing foster care numbers and addressed persistent challenges in recruiting foster families.
Tiffany Wright, Director of the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), presented the agency’s annual report, which revealed that the number of children in foster care had dropped to 3,553 at the end of the fiscal year. This marks a significant decline from 4,854 in 2021.
Despite the progress, Wright emphasized ongoing difficulties in recruiting foster parents, particularly for older youth and those with complex needs. Senator Alan Clark commented on the issue, stating, “So that makes me wonder, just wondering out loud, if that's not just going to be the state of that. And I'm not blaming anybody that you can't convince people to do it unless it's a crisis that you need them to. Because with a thousand kids less, 1,300 kids less, you would think we'd be in much better shape.”
Wright acknowledged the challenge but highlighted her team’s efforts to prioritize placements with relatives and provide support for foster families.
Garrett’s Law, enacted in 2005, facilitates the investigation of newborns exposed to drugs or alcohol during pregnancy. Wright reported that in the past fiscal year, DCFS received 1,360 referrals under Garrett’s Law, an 11% decline from the previous year. Marijuana was the substance most frequently cited in these cases, accounting for 81% of reports.
Addressing questions from Representative Julie Mayberry, Wright clarified, “This does not reflect [whether the parent] has a medical card. This is that the infant and parent were positive for marijuana.” She noted the need for consistency in decision-making across regions to ensure infants’ safety.
Representative Joy Springer raised concerns about high substantiation rates in certain areas, asking, “What about the ones that are still maintaining these high rates then? What are you doing differently with respect to addressing those that are maintaining these higher rates?” Wright explained that DCFS continues to monitor these cases closely and provide services, including substance abuse treatment referrals.
Wright encouraged committee members to participate in the upcoming “Christmas at the Capitol” event on December 12, where donated gifts will support children in foster care. She noted that teenagers often need specific items, such as gaming systems, name-brand clothing, and smartphones, but these are frequently in short supply.
Representative Jeff Wardlaw focused on the importance of family placements, highlighting that the percentage of foster children placed with relatives had increased to nearly 40%. He requested that DCFS provide regular updates, saying, “Maybe send a quarterly report to council just so all the members have access to where we're at on that percentage.” Wright agreed, adding that detailed data is available on the DHS website, broken down by county.
The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude to departing committee members and staff. Wright ended on a hopeful note, saying, “I feel like we are making the progress and we just need to keep going in the direction that we're going.”
Lawmakers acknowledged the strides made but reiterated the importance of addressing recruitment challenges for foster families and providing consistent support for vulnerable children and families.
