Decision-Making for the Permanent Placement of Children Arkansas
Statute: §§ 9-27-337; 9-27-338
Review hearings every 6 months while the child is in out-of-home placement
Permanency hearings no later than 12 months after the child enters care, or in placement 15 of the previous 22 months, or 30 days after the court orders no reunification services
Annual permanency hearings as long as the child remains in placement
Persons Entitled to Attend Hearings
Statute: §§ 9-27-337; 9-27-338
The department
The attorney ad litem
The court-appointed special advocate (CASA)
The parties and their counsel
Determinations Made at Hearings
Statute: § 9-27-337
The extent of compliance with the case plan
Progress toward alleviating the causes of out-of-home placement
Whether the child can safely be returned home
Whether the child should continue in out-of-home placement for a specified period of time
Permanency Options
Statute: § 9-27-338
Return the child home
Place the child for adoption
Obtain a guardian or permanent custodian for the child
Continue the goal of reunification if the parent is making progress and expects to achieve reunification within a reasonable period of time
Independence for the child
