Welcome to the Arkansas Adoption Resource Exchange (AARE) web site. The exchange is operated by the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services (DHS/DCFS). AARE is dedicated to finding families for the following children: African American children from two years of age or older; Caucasian children nine years of age or older; children with a serious medical, emotional, and/or learning condition; and/or brothers and sisters who need to be adopted together in the same family.

This web site includes photographs and general descriptions of children who are waiting for an adoptive family. The children are in the custody of DHS/DCFS and are legally free for adoption. DHS/DCFS is the public adoption agency in Arkansas.

HOW DO I USE THE ADOPTION WEB SITE?

On the home page for this web site, you must decide if you would like to view information about the girls, boys, or sibling groups (click on your preference) who are legally free for adoption. Photographs of children will appear. If you click on the child’s photograph, a profile about the child will appear. This profile is an introduction to the child. It does not contain all there is to know about a child. More detailed information is available.

The profile of a child will include the child’s first name, date of birth, registration number, sibling information, and some physical characteristics. Additional information may include: personality characteristics, developmental information, strengths, challenges, interests, talents, special services that are needed, etc.

If you live in Arkansas and need additional information about being considered as adoptive family for a particular child on the web site, or need general information about the adoption program, you will need to contact the DHS/DCFS Adoption Specialist who serves your county, click here for list. If you do not live in Arkansas, contact the DHS/DCFS Adoption Services Unit at the Little Rock address or phone numbers listed above. E-mails may be forwarded to linda.dismuke@arkansas.gov. Or, you may contact our offices:

WHY DO THESE CHILDREN NEED AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY?

Many of the children are removed from their birth family or legal parent due to neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and/or sexual abuse. DHS/DCFS has attempted to work with the birth family to resolve problems. Some the children’s parents have consented to the children being adopted and DHS/DCFS and the court have agreed. Other parents have not consented. In such cases, DHS/DCFS and the court have determined it is not safe for the child to live with the parent or other family members. An adoption cannot take place unless the birth parent or legal parent’s rights have been terminated by the court.

WHERE ARE THESE CHILDREN LIVING?

The children are in the custody of DHS/DCFS. Most of the children live with foster families. Some live in group homes and with therapeutic foster families. Others live in residential treatment facilities as result of having emotional and/or physical conditions. Many of the children have had multiple placements.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO ADOPT?

You must be at least 21 years old to 55 years old (to the age of 40 years for an infant under 1 year old). A primary caregiver must be an age so that it can be anticipated that he/she can parent the child into adulthood. You may be married (minimum of 2 years), divorced (at least one year), or single. An illness or disability will not prevent you from adopting. It would need to be determined that an illness or disability would not interfere with your ability to parent. You do not have to own your home. Your home must have adequate space and be safe. Safety measures must be in place concerning firearms, dangerous pets, and water hazards. You don’t have to have a lot of money. There must be sufficient income/resources to meet the needs of a child. Adoption subsidy may be a resource for an adopted child who is eligible. There is no educational or religious requirement. A criminal record check, driving record check, and a child abuse/neglect check are required. You must be mature, stable, and have appropriate parenting skills. You will need to complete adoption training that DHS/DCFS provides at no cost. Completion of CPR and First Aid training is required. If you live out of state, you must secure the training from the public adoption agency or a private, licensed adoption agency. An adoption assessment or "home study" is required.

WHAT IS AN ADOPTION ASSESSMENT OR "HOME STUDY"?

It is very important that you are assessed and prepared for adoption in order to make informed decisions and to meet the needs of a child who has been neglected and/or abused. A lot of information is provided during group meetings (training) with other adoptive applicants. There are opportunities to talk with adoption staff and usually experienced adoptive families. An Adoption Specialist meets with household members individually and as a family. This person will visit in your home. You will be asked to think about your life experiences, relationships, lifestyle, strengths, challenges, parenting skills, expectations for children, support systems, problem solving skills, communication skills, child development, child abuse and neglect, motivation for adoption, adoption issues, preferences for a child, and more. Forms are completed. A medical evaluation on all household members is necessary by a doctor you select. The Adoption Specialist completes a criminal record check on everyone in the household who is 14 years of age or older and a child abuse and neglect check on everyone in the household who is 10 years of age or older. This entire process of assessment and preparation is referred to as an adoption assessment or "home study". It is a mutual learning experience between DHS/DCFS adoption staff and you. DHS/DCFS adoption staff does not expect perfect families.

If you do not live in Arkansas, contact the public adoption agency in your state to complete the adoption training and "home study". DHS/DCFS may be able to accept a "home study" that has been completed by a private, licensed adoption agency in your state. Some private agencies may offer the training. Private agencies may charge DHS/DCFS a fee to place a child and to provide required services after the placement. DHS/DCFS may or may not have monies available to pay the fee.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

The adoption assessment or "home study" may take up to four to six months to complete. When this process is completed and the adoption application has been approved, you will be available to be selected as an adoptive family for a child. If you have expressed an interest in a child on the adoption web site, a determination will be made about the appropriateness of selecting you as the adoptive family for that child if the child has not been placed with an adoptive family. You will be considered along with other approved adoptive applicants. If another family is selected for the child, you will enter the DHS/DCFS resource of approved adoptive applicants and will be considered for other children who match your preferences. We encourage you to express interest in other children who are registered on the adoption web site.

It may take a few months, a year, or longer for a selection or "match" to occur. A factor in the length of time is your preferences for a child. The greatest need is adoptive families for school aged children including teenagers. DHS/DCFS cannot guarantee you that a child will be placed.

At the time you are selected as an adoptive family for a child, you will be provided with a packet of information about the child. If you are interested in considering the child after assessing the information, the child will receive information and usually photographs about you. Planned visits between you and child will occur. During these visits you will also talk with DHS/DCFS staff. You may meet with the child’s foster parents/care providers, mental health counselor, medical professionals, teachers, attorney, advocate, and significant others. The length of the visitation schedule is based upon the child’s needs.

If you live in another state, DHS/DCFS will follow the law and regulations of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). The approval of the ICPC office in each state must be secured prior to a child’s placement with an adoptive family that lives in another state. DHS/DCFS will initiate the ICPC procedures.

A child must live with an adoptive family for at least six months before an adoption can be legally finalized in Arkansas. During this time, an Adoption Specialist will help you with questions, problems, locating resources, etc.

IS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE?

Financial assistance may be available in form of monthly support to the child, one-time reimbursement for expenses related to initial adoption expenses, and a federal tax credit for the year in which the adoption takes place. The monthly support, called adoption subsidy, is available for children who meet eligibility requirements. A subsidy helps to meet the costs of providing for the child’s daily needs. Subsidies may be available to help pay for medical or psychological services and legal fees to finalize an adoption.

WHAT ABOUT ADOPTING AN INFANT?

Over the past few decades, the number of healthy, Caucasian infants, who are relinquished to DHS/DCFS for adoption has decreased sharply. DHS/DCFS is not taking applications for normal, healthy newborns. DHS/DCFS continues to accept applications to adopt a healthy, African American child from birth to two years.

IS THERE A FEE?

DHS/DCFS is a public adoption agency and does not charge a fee to apply for adoption or for placement of a child. You would be responsible for any fee for a medical examination that is required during an adoption assessment or "home study". If you have lived in Arkansas for less than six years, you would be responsible for a fee for a FBI criminal record check. Most of the legal fees to finalize an adoption may be paid by an adoption subsidy for an eligible child.

WHAT MAKES AN ADOPTION SUCCESSFUL?

To successfully adopt a child, who is registered on the DHS/DCFS adoption web site, a parent must have the ability to: