In all custodial placements by the Department of Human Services in foster care or adoption, preferential consideration shall be given to an adult relative over a nonrelated caregiver, if:
(1) The relative caregiver meets all relevant child protection standards; and
(2) It is in the best interest of the child to be placed with the relative caregiver.
Structure Arkansas Code
Chapter 28 - Placement or Detention
Subchapter 1 - Children and Family Services
§ 9-28-101. Legislative intent and purpose
§ 9-28-102. Creation of the Division of Children and Family Services
§ 9-28-103. Division of Children and Family Services — Powers and duties
§ 9-28-104. Best interest of the child
§ 9-28-105. Preference to relative caregivers for a child in foster care
§ 9-28-106. Religious preference — Removal of barriers to inter-ethnic adoption
§ 9-28-107. Notice when juvenile transferred to custody of department
§ 9-28-108. Placement of juveniles — Definitions
§ 9-28-109. Notice of move in foster care placement
§ 9-28-110. Smoking in the presence of foster children
§ 9-28-111. Case plans — Definition
§ 9-28-112. Foster children and educational issues
§ 9-28-113. Continuity of educational services to foster children
§ 9-28-114. Foster youth transition
§ 9-28-115. Immunity — Definition
§ 9-28-116. Restrictions on foster and adoptive parents
§ 9-28-117. Authority to obtain local criminal background checks
§ 9-28-118. Training hours for employees
§ 9-28-119. Department of Human Services — Power to obtain information — Definitions
§ 9-28-120. Public disclosure of information on deaths and maltreatment