HOT SPRINGS -- Garland County Circuit Judge Wade Naramore on Monday determined an agreement made between an area couple and the Arkansas Department of Human Services on March 17 was reasonable and fair, allowing all seven of their children to return home for a determined amount of time.
Attorney Q. Byrum Hurst said the agreement made in the mediation with Hal and Michelle Stanley was ratified in a hearing held Monday.
"At the present time, all seven children are back," Hurst said. "It has went well."
The children were placed into Human Services Department custody Jan. 12 after multiple agencies responded to their home because of allegations of child abuse and neglect.
On Jan. 22, the court found probable cause to keep the seven children in custody until a full custody hearing Feb. 12, which was later rescheduled for Monday.
Sheriff Mike McCormick said Monday that there was no new information on his office's investigation of the Stanleys.
Hurst said the three oldest children are visiting, but the four youngest were returned under certain conditions agreed upon in the mediation. There will be a review hearing May 13 for the court to conclude if the agreement is being fulfilled.
Human Services Department spokesman Kate Luck said that in similar cases, both parties come to the table with concerns and attempt a compromise with the children in the home.
"That's always our goal, is to keep the children in the home," she said.
Hurst said the Stanleys are being held to the same rules and conditions the department gives to foster parents because the Human Services Department technically still has custody of the children.
"You would have to assume it's just like when DHS places children with a foster parent," he said.
He also said the statute allows a trial placement period when children are placed back into a home, which is what the Stanleys have with their children for 60 days.
The "Bring the Stanley kids home" Facebook page has gathered more than 16,000 "likes" in support of the family, and a GoFundMe account has raised $21,571 in two months.
State Desk on 03/26/2015