Public Agency Adoptions
The Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services, is the state agency in Arkansas that places children for adoption and is supported by tax dollars. Most of the children have been in foster care as a result of neglect, abuse, and/or abandonment. The adoption program is centered on finding families for Caucasian children nine years of age and older and African American children of any age; especially, two years of age and older. Adoptive families are also needed for large sibling groups and children with serious medical, emotional, and learning conditions. DCFS will arrange the adoption of a newborn at the request of a birth parent and efforts are made to place the infant directly from the hospital with an adoptive family. Typically, there is no plan for continuing contacts between the birth family and adoptive family after a child is placed. DCFS does not charge a fee to adopt a child. Adoptive families receive training and assessment prior to placement of a child. Services are provided after a child is placed. Adoption subsidy is available for eligible children.