1. (a) The Subsidized Guardianship Oversight Committee will:

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Meet to review and discuss all subsidized guardianship forms and supporting documentation within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving the information from the Division of Children and Family Services Subsidized Guardianship Coordinator.
      2. (B) This includes review of CFS-435-C: Subsidized Guardianship Special Subsidy Request and any documentation received from the family that would support the need for a special subsidy rate;
   2. (2) Verify that all subsidized guardianship eligibility and case plan criteria have been met; and
   3. (3) Determine if a special subsidy rate is warranted, if requested.

2. (b) The division Subsidized Guardianship Coordinator or designee will:

   1. (1) Facilitate the committee meeting; and

   2. (2) Notify the FSW, FSW Supervisor, and Area Director of the Subsidized Guardianship Oversight Committee’s verification regarding the subsidized guardianship arrangement and any special subsidy rate determination (if applicable):

      1. (A) If the committee verifies that the subsidized guardianship arrangement should move forward, ask the FSW to work with the local Office of Chief Counsel attorney to file a petition for guardianship (and determine a court date for the guardianship hearing if date has not already been set) and proceed to 9 CAR § 40-951, subsidized guardianship agreement finalization; and
      2. (B) If the committee cannot verify that the subsidized guardianship arrangement should move forward, tell the FSW to:

3. (i) Work with the family to meet any needed adjustments determined by the committee that may qualify them to move forward with a subsidized guardianship arrangement at a later date; or

   1. (ii) See 9 CAR § 40-945, denial of subsidized guardianship arrangement, if appropriate.

      1. (c) The FSW will:
   2. (1) If moving forward with the subsidized guardianship arrangement, request that the local Office of Chief Counsel attorney petition the court to finalize the guardianship and the subsidized guardianship agreement by providing the Office of Chief Counsel attorney with a copy of the CFS-435-A: Subsidized Guardianship Application and Checklist that includes the division Subsidized Guardianship Coordinator or designee’s signature; or

   3. (2) If not moving forward with the subsidized guardianship arrangement:

      1. (A) Work with the family to meet any needed adjustments determined by the committee that may qualify them to move forward with a subsidized guardianship arrangement at a later date, if applicable; or

      2. (B) See 9 CAR § 40-945, denial of subsidized guardianship arrangement, if applicable.

         1. (d) The FSW Supervisor will:
   4. (1) Conference with the FSW as needed; and
   5. (2) Inform the Area Director of issues related to pursuing the subsidized guardianship arrangement for the child.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "01/2020"