It is the responsibility of DCFS to provide educational opportunities to help each child meet their full potential. To ensure that children in the custody of DHS receive a quality education, it is the Division's policy to enroll children in foster care only in schools accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Children in foster care shall attend public schools. However, the DCFS Director may grant an educational waiver allowing a child to be placed in a non-public school, including a private, parochial, or home school if it is the best interest of the child. No state or federal funding may be used for such placement. For a child in foster care to be enrolled in a non-public school or be home schooled, a certified mental health professional must present documentation stating that the non-public schooling is in the child's best interests.

Tutoring can be purchased for a child in need of additional educational assistance. Consult the Family Service Worker regarding tutoring. Educational testing and counseling should be available to a child in foster care when they begin to make career/curriculum decisions. If a child desires to pursue college or vocational training after high school, the Family Service Worker will assist the child in the exploration of resources to pursue this plan.

A staffing is a meeting of key persons who are responsible directly or indirectly for problem solving and decision-making in regard to a child's case plan.

An initial staffing for the child is held within the first 30 days of the child's stay in foster care. Another staffing is held two months after the first staffing and every three months thereafter.

Foster parents will be invited to all staffings on children currently in their care in accordance with the Foster Home Agreement Addendum, CFS-462A. However, it may not be necessary for them to attend the entire staffing.

The Family Service Worker will inform the foster parent in advance of the purpose of the staffing, and what information, if any, that one may be called upon to present. Information presented may include the following:

In order to achieve reunification of families, DCFS shall strive to ensure visitation be made available within the first five days of placement. Visits will be based on the families' needs and reasons for the home placement.

The foster parent plays a very important role in the visitation of the child with parents and siblings. This role includes acceptance of the visits, emotional preparation of the child and supportive follow up with both the child and the child's worker. The foster parent can help the child by preparing the child for changes in the family circumstances or anything that might be unexpected and difficult for the child to accept. The same supportive attitude is needed after the visit.

The foster parent's help is vital to the success of the child's visitation with family members. However, a foster parent may find visitation difficult in some situations. For example, a child may be returned upset, with lost clothing, uncombed hair, etc. These issues may cause the foster parent to question the value of the visits. At such times, it will help to discuss these feelings with the FSW to be reminded of the reasons for visitation. Frequently, with supportive understanding, such problems can be worked out satisfactorily for all concerned.

In any case, the foster parent should always report to the child's FSW the reaction of the child to the visit and the foster parent's perceived observation.

There are occasions when questions may be asked or pictures requested for purposes of newspaper, television, or radio publicity. All publicity must be approved through the FSW and the County Office Supervisor. Some situations may require the involvement of the DHS Director of Communication.

The Director of DCFS may authorize an employee or any foster parent to sign an application for a youth in foster care to obtain an Arkansas Learner's Permit or Intermediate Driver's License. The youth in foster care must meet requirements set by the Division and the State of Arkansas, and be approved by the Director. The foster parent may apply for reimbursement for the additional cost to add the child to their automobile insurance. Participation in both of these programs is voluntary. For more information, the foster parent should consult with their FSW.

If a child runs away from the foster home, the foster parent should immediately notify the child's Family Service Worker, On-Call Worker, and/or County Office Supervisor. The Foster Parent should be able to provide information regarding clothes the child was wearing, etc., to aid the worker in making a report to the police.

When a youth in foster care is arrested, a foster parent should notify the FSW or On-Call Worker (if after hours). The FSW will talk to law enforcement officials to find out where the youth is being held, the alleged offense, times of the hearings, and possible repercussions. The FSW will also determine if the youth understands his or her legal rights and has not unknowingly waived the rights to silence and to presence of an attorney during any questioning.

The FSW will attempt to have the youth released into the custody of the foster parent if they are willing to sign a statement that the youth will be returned on the day of the detention hearing and/or the adjudication hearing. The youth's birth/legal parents will be notified. The DHS Attorney will be notified, and will contact the Prosecuting Attorney to assure that both the rights of DCFS and the youth are protected and that the youth has an attorney. The DHS Attorney will represent DHS, when appropriate, in the court hearing. The FSW will attend court with the youth.