LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Asa Hutchinson wants lawmakers to approve spending $1 million in rainy day funds on 40 additional caseworkers in its foster care system.
Hutchinson announced the request Tuesday as hundreds of religious leaders gathered for his Restore Hope Summit. The two-day meeting includes discussions on how the faith-based community can help with foster care and prisoner re-entry.
A consultant who studied Arkansas' Division of Children and Family Services has recommended the state reduce the caseworkers' average load from 29 to 20. The state says that, to meet the goal in three years, it would need 200 extra employees and $8 million.
Hutchinson noted Arkansas saved $50 million by opting for a prison expansion rather than a new facility and said some of that money could be spent on re-entry efforts.
See Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full coverage.