State DHS: foster‑care caseloads steady, permanency metrics improve; Project 0 matching event yields new inquiries

The Department of Human Services’ Division of Children and Family Services reported to the Senate Children and Youth Committee that state fiscal‑year‑2024 first‑quarter metrics showed steady caseloads and modest improvements in permanency outcomes.

Tiffany Wright, who presented the division’s quarterly and overturned‑investigations reports, said, “In this quarter, there were a total of 7,308 maltreatment reports called in during the quarter. Of those 5,875 were assigned to DCFS,” noting that assigned reports represent about 80 percent of calls. She told the committee timely completion of child‑maltreatment assessments increased roughly 10 percent for the quarter.

Why it matters: caseload and permanency measures affect how long children spend in foster care and the resources required for family services and adoptions. Wright reported 4,296 children involved in in‑home and supportive‑services cases and 3,874 children and youth in foster care at the end of the quarter.

Wright said the division recorded 599 exits from foster care during the quarter and that reasons for entry remain primarily neglect and substance abuse. On dispositions she reported that 41 percent of children exited to reunification and 32 percent exited with a goal of adoption. The division’s rate of achieving permanency within 12 months rose to 47 percent, which Wright characterized as above the national standard.

On adoption availability, Wright said there were 328 children listed as available for adoption; she also noted a subset already in pre‑adoptive placement that reduces the number effectively awaiting placement to about 263. She added that the average time to adoption fell to about 9.8 months, below the national standard.

During questioning, Senator Sullivan asked whether the permanency timelines reset if new information emerged mid‑case. Wright clarified that the chart on page 15 is calculated as 12 months from discharge of the first quarter and “is not reflective of any resets,” while staff continue to provide services and supports as cases develop.

Project 0: Representative Faught asked about a recent matching event. Wright described the 'Candyland Christmas' Project 0 event held the first Saturday in December, saying, “we brought 232 of our waiting children from across the state to Little Rock and then invited all of our waiting families.” She said inquiries resulted from the event, and staff were reviewing them and working to determine matches.

Next steps: Wright invited members to follow up by email and closed her presentation; committee work then moved to the Arkansas State Police report.