This week marked the 8th consecutive year of a heartwarming Christmas celebration at the Capitol. Legislators, Capitol staff, state agencies, and lobbyists gathered to spread holiday cheer by bringing gifts for children in foster care.

Year after year, this event is eagerly anticipated by participants as it brings much-needed joy and smiles to the faces of children in foster care. Moreover, it serves as a poignant reminder of the pressing need for loving homes to provide care.

As of now, Arkansas has over 3,800 children in foster care, each with their unique backgrounds, cultures, and families.

These children, spanning various age groups from infants to teenagers, possess distinct personalities, abilities, interests, and potential.

Typically, children spend approximately 12 months in foster care. The duration of their stay is often tied to their biological parent's engagement in services aimed at ensuring the safety of their children. The primary objective of foster care is reunification, wherein a foster parent cares for a child until they can be returned home or until an alternative permanency decision is made.

Placement durations vary, ranging from a few weeks to several months.

For those interested in making a lasting impact by becoming a foster parent, we encourage you to explore everychildarkansas.org.

Every Child Arkansas is a collaborative initiative designed to connect Arkansans and address the needs of the state's most vulnerable children. In partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Every Child Arkansas strives to offer love, care, and support to vulnerable children and families. It serves as a valuable resource to connect individuals with the right people in their community to initiate the foster parent certification process.