FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Saving Children and Reviving Souls, Inc. (S.C.A.R.S.) [email protected] │ savingkidz.rocks

Saving Children and Reviving Souls, Inc. (S.C.A.R.S.), is working to assist our State’s children and child welfare system in response to an influx in numbers of reported child abuse stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bentonville, , January 15, 2021 — Saving Children and Reviving Souls, Inc., a nonprofit organization also known as S.C.A.R.S., has a clear and straightforward mission—Child Advocacy. S.C.A.R.S. is grateful to Representative , Representative Charline Fite, and all other advocates of child welfare for their commitment to children, by making their protection and safety a priority, and urging the State of Arkansas to consider our child welfare system in the recent CARES Act funding disbursement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our State in more ways than imaginable. One of the many groups the pandemic has affected is our State’s children and their wellbeing. Before school started this Fall, children were at home for six months and away from mandated reporters’ watchful eyes. During these six months, children were trapped at home where abuse most often occurs. These children lost the opportunity to take advantage of our welfare system’s services and begin the healing process they so desperately need.

Due to this inevitable rise in child abuse cases that the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas knew they would see during the months when school starts, S.C.A.R.S. has collaborated with our State’s child welfare advocates. See attached, a letter from Representative Joe Jett of District 56 and Representative Charlene Fite of District 80 urging our Governor, Asa Hutchison, to consider our State’s most vulnerable in recent CARES Act funding distributions. As a result of these efforts, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas received $425,000 for the centers across the State, representing $25,000 per center in Arkansas. See attached, CARES Act fund distribution approval for Arkansas Child Advocacy Centers.

S.C.A.R.S. is working to identify and collect comprehensive child abuse statistical data. We have seen how challenging it is to collect accurate statistical information relating to crimes against juveniles and their perpetrators’ criminal proceedings, the victims’ privacy being paramount and protected by statute. Through our ongoing survey endeavors, we have discovered that no fully comprehensive, central data collection system or publicly accessible repository of this information currently exists in Arkansas. This information is critical to educate the public regarding such issues that are happening right before us in the shadows of our own communities.

S.C.A.R.S. is dedicated to keeping children safe. We are committed to advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves and continue to push for additional funding so that children have all the necessary tools they need for recovery and healing. Representatives Joe Jett and Charlene Fite are working hard to

make sure Arkansas is a leader in child abuse rescue, prosecution of abusers, and mental health treatment by bringing people together to put together legislation to address these issues.

Child welfare issues are not partisan, and when we all work together, we can develop innovative solutions. If you observe or suspect child abuse, contact 1-844-SAVE-A-CHILD (1-844-728-3224) or 1-800-482-5964. Operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit our website at www.savingkidz.rocks or email us at [email protected] to learn how you can get involved.

-30-

REPRESENTATIVE Joe Jett 572 County Road 101 Success, Arkansas 72470-8055 July 28, 2020

870-276-5319 Business 870-926-2740 Cell The Honorable 870-276-5318 FAX Governor of Arkansas [email protected] State Capitol 500 Woodlane Street, Suite 250 DISTRICT 56 Little Rock, AR 72201

Dear Governor Hutchinson: Counties: Clay The current pandemic impacting our state and nation has without a doubt presented Part Greene us with some of the greatest challenges of our lifetime, and your leadership and Part Lawrence guidance as we continue navigating this current situation has been invaluable to Part Randolph Arkansas. We are writing today to bring to your attention a specific need for one of our state’s most valuable child welfare resources, the Child Advocacy Centers of COMMITTEES: Arkansas (CACA).

Chairperson, As you are well aware, the consequences of the COVID-19 virus reach far beyond the Revenue and Taxation doctor’s office or a hospital room. There is no shortage of literature documenting concern for an increase in both mental health issues and physical abuse, especially Agriculture, Forestry and Economic among our most vulnerable populations. CACA is a nonprofit that provides advocacy, Development forensic interviews, medical exams, and mental health services to children who have Agriculture, Forestry and Natural been referred due to suspected physical or sexual abuse. The organization has already Resources Subcommittee experienced a nine percent increase in the number of children served since March of this year and anticipates an equal, if not greater, increase in child abuse referrals once Joint Performance Review school resumes next month and teachers begin interacting again with students who have spent much of their time secluded inside the home with their abusers. Joint Budget This increase will undoubtedly prove to be problematic for CACA. The organization’s current funding is not adequate to support these critical services for such a significantly increased number of children. In fact, CACA has not seen an increase in state funding since 2007, while CACA’s services and number of centers have increased in that same time period. As such, state funding provided to this essential organization was inadequate prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and is most certainly lacking at this time.

Now more than ever, it is essential that we ensure CACA is able to continue providing these essential services for the protection of Arkansas children, and we appeal to you and the CARES Act Steering Committee to provide relief to this organization by providing funding of $50,000 to each of CACA’s 17 centers throughout the state (see CACA’s proposal enclosed). This funding, totaling $850,000, is critical to CACA’s ability to serve the increased number of child abuse victims.

Governor Hutchinson 07/28/2020 Page 2

It is incumbent upon us as a state to ensure that these children receive the high quality care they deserve. We appeal to you, as our state’s governor, for your strong consideration of extending the necessary funding to allow continued support of our state’s most vulnerable. Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

Joe Jett State Representative District 56

Charlene Fite State Representative District 80

JJ/CF/rv

Enclosure

Cc: Ms. Elizabeth Smith, Secretary, Department of Inspector General Dr. Greg Bledsoe, Arkansas Surgeon General Mr. Larry Walther, Secretary, Department of Finance & Admin. Mr. Mike Preston, Secretary of Commerce Dr. Jose Romero, Interim Secretary of Health Ms. Cindy Gillespie, Secretary of the Department of Human Services Ms. Amy Fecher, Secretary, Dept. of Transformation & Shared Svcs. Ms. Jami Cook, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety Mr. Johnny Key, Secretary of the Department of Education Mr. Bill Gossage, Governor’s Office Representative Senator Missy Irvin Senator David Wallace Senator Will Bond Representative Representative Michelle Gray Representative Fred Allen

SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA

Suspension of the Rules Request ALC/Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) Subcommittee Tuesday, September 15, 2020 9:00 a.m. Room A, MAC

A. Various Temporary Appropriation Requests – FY21 1. Department of Commerce - Division of Workforce Services

B. CARES Appropriation Requests - FY21 1. Department of Human Services – Secretary’s Office/DHS Administration

C. Miscellaneous Federal Grant Requests – FY21 1. Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Services 2. Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Services 3. Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Services 4. Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Services

D. Overtime Appropriation Transfer Requests – FY21 1. Department of Corrections – Division of Correction

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY STATE OF ARKANSAS 1509 West Seventh Street. Suite 401 Post Office Box 3278 Department of Finance Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-3278 Phone: (501) 682-2242 and Administration Fax: (501) 682-1029 www .arkansas.gov/dfa

September 11 , 2020

Senator Bruce Maloch, Co-Chair Representative DeAnn Vaught, Co-Chair Performance Evaluation & Expenditure Review Committee Arkansas Legislative Council State Capitol Building Little Rock, AR 72201

RE: Supplemental Items

Dear Co-Chairs:

I respectfully request suspension of the rules by the committee for review of the items listed on the attached page. These items were received after the deadline for submission to your Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee, but we are requesting inclusion in this month's review.

Sincerely, ~wfr/~ ]:::::J.~. Walther ~~t Secretary

LWW

Attachment( s) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY STATE OF ARKANSAS 1509 West Seventh Street. Suite 401 Post Office Box 3278 Department of Finance Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-3278 Phone: (501) 682-2242 and Administration Fax: (501) 682-1029 www.arkansas.gov/dfa

September 11 , 2020

Senator Bruce Maloch, Co-Chair Representative DeAnn Vaught, Co-Chair Performance Evaluation & Expenditure Review Committee Arkansas Legislative Council State Capitol Building Little Rock, AR 72201

RE: FY 21 C.A.R.E.S. Appropriation Request(s)

Dear Co-Chairs:

Pursuant to Act 2 of 2020, Section 36, I am forwarding for appropriate action as required by law, the attached C.A.R.E.S. Appropriation Request(s) that have received my approval as Chief Fiscal Officer of the State.

Sincerely,

~tJW~ ;;;J--w.Walther Cabinet Secretary

LWW

Attachment(s)