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Asa Hutchinson Says Work to Continue after Faith Summit

2 min read

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday he wants the state to continue working with faith leaders about ways to address a shortage in foster homes and needs for re-entry programs for prisoners after a two-day summit focused on the topics.

The Republican governor wrapped up a two-day conference aimed at partnering more with religious organizations on helping foster children and ex-inmates. He said he wanted the steering committee he formed to organize the event to continue working on the two issues, and possibly expand into others.

“Arkansas has an opportunity to lead,” Hutchinson told the summit at a downtown Little Rock hotel. “We have an opportunity to lead in a way that is a partnership that you have already started that we can expand on that really can be an example and a national leader.”

Hutchinson said he wants the steering committee to also look at ways to address drug abuse, noting that half of the children in foster care enter the system because of substance abuse in the home.

“I’m very concerned about the drug issues in this state, and whenever you see them impacting and endangering children, I hope we will give some thought to the root cause as well as making sure we have the solutions and support we need for our children,” Hutchinson said.

The summit was held as Hutchinson has had to tap into the state’s reserve funds to address both prisons and foster care needs. Last week, a legislative panel approved his request for $10 million to open more prison beds in Pine Bluff and send some inmates to Texas. On Tuesday, he said he planned to seek another $1 million to hire 40 more workers for the state’s foster care system.

Cecile Blucker, head of the DHS Division of Children and Family Services, urged religious leaders at the summit to help expand the number of available foster homes in the state. Arkansas has nearly 4,400 foster children, but only 2,940 approved beds for them.

“There are so many opportunities, so many ways you can become involved, so many ways to make a difference,” Blucker said.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast or distributed.)

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