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Senate committee reviews DHS rule to formalize use of private licensed placement agency foster homes
Summary
The Senate Children and Youth Committee reviewed a new DHS rule to formalize guidance for private licensed placement agency (PLPA) foster homes; DHS said PLPA homes meet DCFS standards but payment arrangements vary by provider. The committee considered the rule reviewed without objection.
The Senate Children and Youth Committee on June 10 reviewed a new Arkansas Department of Human Services rule to formalize guidance and referral processes for private licensed placement agency (PLPA) foster homes.
Kristen Harper, assistant director with the Division of Children and Family Services, told the committee that while PLPA homes are not new to Arkansas' child-welfare system, the rule will provide formal staff guidance on when to use and how to refer to PLPA providers. “PLPA homes must meet all of the same minimum licensing standards and DCFS policies as foster homes recruited by DCFS,” Harper said, noting the rule aims to clarify roles and referrals.
Harper said PLPA homes typically have a PLPA case manager assigned in addition to a DCFS caseworker and that payment arrangements vary by provider: some PLPA agencies receive no payment from the division, some foster parents receive direct board payments at the same rate as DCFS foster homes, and some agencies hold contracts with the division with different payment structures tied to higher performance indicators. Harper listed example providers when explaining the network of agencies, including “Children's Home Inc,” “Sparrow's Promise” (formerly Searcy's Children's Home) and “Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes.”
Representative Birch asked whether reimbursement differs between PLPA and DCFS foster homes; Harper replied that payments vary across PLPA providers depending on agency arrangements with the division. Representative Springer asked whether the division had shared the rule with Arkansas advocates; Harper said the rule went through the public notice period and offered to follow up directly with Miss Ferguson to share the rule document.
With no further questions, the chair stated, “Without objection, this rule will be considered reviewed.”
The committee did not take a formal adoption vote during the session; the action recorded was a procedural review of the proposed rule.
