Decision-Making for the Permanent Placement of Children Arkansas

Schedule of Hearings

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