9 CAR § 40-737. Travel not related to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children

(a)(1) Children experiencing foster care may have the opportunity or need to travel for reasons not related to ICPC. (2) These may include but are not limited to: (A) Vacationing with their resource family; (B) An out-of-state visit with a family member; or (C) Attending a funeral of a family member. (3) Any travel that promotes a sense of normalcy or connection for children in foster care is encouraged, as appropriate for a particular child and in accordance with the reasonable and prudent parent standard (see 9 CAR § 40-814 for more information). (b)(1) An out-of-state visit is thirty (30) days or less and is not subject to ICPC. (2) However, if it is greater than thirty (30) days, it is a placement, which is subject to ICPC. (c)(1) Because the division is the appointed custodian of a child experiencing foster care, the division has the right to consent to the child’s travel on vacation or similar trips as per Arkansas Code § 9-27-353(e). (2) As such, resource parents must have prior written authorization to transport children in foster care for an overnight stay outside the State of Arkansas. (3) Such requests will be made to the Social Service Specialist as soon as travel planning begins, and at a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to scheduled travel dates, if possible. (d) Resource parents will not have to submit a request for out-of-state travel in order to cross the state border when travel plans do not require an overnight stay outside the State of Arkansas, such as shopping or visiting with a relative in a nearby town over state lines. (e)(1) When vacationing as a family, resource parents are encouraged to take any children placed in their home with them. (2) However, the division will not pay for vacation expenses. (3) As noted above, travel out of state involving an overnight stay or more requires prior written authorization. (f) For children placed out-of-state by an Arkansas court and who are not in division custody as the result of a dependency-neglect or dependency case, the sending party is responsible for arranging transportation rather than the division.