LITTLE ROCK — The Department of Human Services says cuts in federal funding will force it to eliminate some child welfare programs, including cutting all funding for a school-based child abuse prevention effort.
The changes, which also include eliminated funding for Family Resource Centers and reduced funding for the State Police Crimes Against Children Division, take effect July 1 after a more than $2.2 million reduction in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families money, the department said.
“We don’t want to see these services reduced, but this is the reality of federal budget cuts,” Gov. Mike Beebe said in a news release. “Cutting federal programs has real consequences for real people, and we will continue providing the best services we can with fewer dollars.”
The school-based program, which served more than 15,000 students last year, makes available student or family counseling, parent training, crisis intervention and other services in 27 districts across the state. Family Resource Centers, meanwhile, educate parents about child development and appropriate responses to a child’s behavior, according to the release.
“Sadly, these cuts, and some expected later, will shift our focus away from preventive services that we know help families and protect children,” Division of Children and Family Services Director Cecile Blucker said in the release. “This is not our first choice, but a significant reduction in federal funding would leave us no alternative.”
An anticipated additional reduction in funding in 2014 would reportedly force the agency to cut back on its child maltreatment investigations.
Arkansas State Police will work to maintain the Crimes Against Children Division by shifting funding from other parts of its budget, the release said.