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Division of County Operations
Office of Program Planning and Development


The Office of Program Planning and Development is responsible for the following program development and implementation:

SERVICE AREA

Commodity Distribution

The Commodity Distribution Section operates in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administers the distribution of USDA Donated Foods to eligible outlets statewide. Foods are currently available to the following programs:

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM: Provides USDA donated foods for meal preparation in public and private schools, residential child care institutions, and child care centers.

CHARITABLE AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS: Provides USDA foods for congregate feeding to nonprofit, IRS tax-exempt service institutions providing rehabilitation to needy persons. Such institutions may be alcohol and /or drug centers, nursing homes, hospitals, jails and correction centers.

SUMMER CAMPS: Provides USDA donated foods to non profit summer camping facilities for children eighteen years of age or under. Foods are provided for congregate feeding

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM: Provides USDA donated foods to DHS Child Nutrition approved sites for the summer feeding of school age children.

EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: The Emergency Food Assistance Program makes surplus and purchased agricultural commodities available to low income households. The commodities are intended to supplement other foods and not serve as a household's sole or main food source.

SOUP KITCHEN - FOOD BANK PROGRAM: Provides USDA foods to nonprofit, IRS tax-exempt foods banks, pantries, and soup kitchens for congregate feeding or distribution to homeless or needy persons/families.

DISASTER FEEDING: Provides USDA donated foods for meal preparation at approved congregate feeding sites established due to natural or manmade disasters and emergencies.

COMMODITY PROCESSING PROGRAM: USDA Donated Foods are made available to commercial food processing companies for further processing of foods into a more acceptable end product for recipient agencies. The value of the USDA commodities is passed through to the recipient agency under a discount or rebate system.

The Commodity Distribution Section determines eligibility of recipient agencies, receives and stores in a commercial storage warehouse all foods allocated to Arkansas for these programs and maintains all records. Recipient agencies, other than schools, pick up their allocation of foods. School foods are delivered by commercial trucking, operating under a state contract. Monitoring, reviews, and inspections are completed on all programs to assure that federal storage, usage, and health standards are observed.

For additional information please contact:

                  Lynn Jackson, Manager, Commodity Distribution                      Arkansas DHS - Division of County Operations
Office of Program Planning and Development
P. O. BOX 1437 -  MS 337

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72203
Telephone (501) 371-1402
Fax (501) 371-1410
EMAIL
lynn.jackson@arkansas.gov

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)

EBT is a method of delivering government benefits electronically through the use of commercial Automated Teller Machines and Point of Sale devices. Instead of mailing out paper benefits each month, a recipient's benefits are placed into an EBT account.  Recipients then access these benefits through the use of an ATM quality magnetic striped card.

Arkansas DHS delivers all Food Stamp and Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) benefits through our EBT system. Arkansas residents who receive federal benefits such Social Security, SSI, Veterans and Railroad Retirement Benefits can also elect to have these benefits added to the Arkansas EBT system too.

Arkansas is a member of a coalition of states; Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia, called the Southern Alliance of States (SAS). The SAS states operate a multi-state, multi-program EBT system, which when fully implemented, will allow Arkansas benefit recipients to access their benefits in each of the SAS states using their Arkansas EBT card.

         For more information about EBT contact:

Electronic Benefits Transfer Unit
Arkansas DHS - Division of County Operations
Office of Program Planning and Development
P.O. Box 1437 - MS 336
Little Rock, AR 72203
Telephone: 501-682-1504
Fax: 501-682-8081

Emergency and Disaster Services

The Emergency Services Unit manages and coordinates all individual assistance programs for victims of disasters when the Chief Executive of the State, the Governor, declares a State Disaster Declaration, or the disaster is of such magnitude that a request is granted by the President of the United States for a Federal Major Disaster Declaration.

Programs:

  • State
  • Individual & Family Grant Program (State)
  • Temporary Housing Program (State)
  • Minimal Home Repair (State)
  • USDA Foods for Shelter Feeding
  • Federal
  • Individual & Family Grant Program (Federal)
  • USDA Foods for Shelter Feeding
  • Emergency Food Stamps

For more information about the Emergency Services, please contact:

Emergency Services Director
Arkansas Department of  Human Services
Division of County Operations
P.O. Box 1437 - MS 301
Little Rock, AR 72203
Telephone: 501-683-1739
Fax: 501-682-1597

Employment / Income Support 

The Employment / Income Support Section has program administrative responsibilities for the implementation and operation of the Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) program and the Medicaid program in the State of Arkansas. These responsibilities include the development of eligibility policies and procedures, based on federal and state law and regulations, for the two programs. The section provides technical assistance to field staff regarding the program policies and to other entities or individuals requesting information about the programs. In addition, the section provides user support assistance for the automated benefit delivery systems.

The Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) program helps economically needy families with children under the age of 18 become more responsible for the support of their families. The TEA program is Arkansas’ welfare reform program under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. For more information on the program, see Transitional Employment Assistance program or click the TEA Policy (TANF) link above.

Click here for a printable version of the TEA application. (English)

Click here for a printable version of the TEA application (Spanish) 

Lorie Williams, Manager, Employment / Income Support
Arkansas DHS - Division of County Operations
Office of Program Planning and Development
P. O. Box 1437 -  MS 333
Little Rock, AR 72203
Telephone number 501-682-8256
Fax Number 501-682-1597
E-mail Lorie.Williams@arkansas.gov

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

(formerly known as the Food Stamp Program)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps people with low income get the food they need for good health.  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are used in place of cash to buy food.  Most people must spend some cash along with their food stamp benefits to buy enough food for a month.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Section has the responsibility for administering Arkansas' Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program within the Division of County Operations. The Section is responsible for the following: analysis of issues, laws, and regulations governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Section develops policy and procedures, monitors compliance with Federal Regulations which relate to timeliness and accuracy, as well as, compliance with regulations governing the delivery of Food benefits.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is funded with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services dollars. 

Annually over $200 million in benefits are authorized for eligible participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

How to Apply For and Use SNAP Benefits

SNAP Basis of Issuance Table

SNAP Application (English)

SNAP Application (Spanish)

For more information about Arkansas's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contact:

Larry Crutchfield, Manager, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Arkansas DHS - Division of County Operations
Office of Program Planning and Development
P. O. Box 1437 -  MS 335
Little Rock, AR 72203
Telephone number 501-682-8276
Fax Number 501-682-1469
E-Mail Larry.Crutchfield@arkansas.gov

Medicaid Eligibility

The Medicaid program provides health care coverage for families with children under the age of 19, to pregnant women, and to elderly, disabled, or blind individuals who meet certain income and resource guidelines. Assistance with Long Term Care expenses is also available through the Medicaid program. There are many different Medicaid eligibility categories with different eligibility rules and income and resource limits. For more information on those categories, see Medicaid Eligibility. Adobe Acrobat is required to read this file.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader Click here to get Acrobat Reader.

Click here for a quick reference to Medicaid eligibility.  

DCO-215-Medicaid Application  (English)

DCO-215-Medicaid Application (Spanish)

ARKids First

DCO-777-Long Term Care/AABD Eligibility

Medical Review Team

The Medical Review Team (MRT) completes disability determinations on the Medicaid category cases where disability is an eligibility requirement.  The Medical Review Team receives an average of 650 cases each month requesting disability determinations.  MRT employs six physicians in a part time capacity to complete the disability determinations.

Isabel Hebert, Manager, Medical Review Team
Arkansas DHS - Division of County Operations
Office of Program Planning and Development
P. O. Box 1437 -  MS S334
Little Rock, AR 72203
Telephone number 501-682-8896
Fax Number 501-682-1559

E-mail
Isabel.Hebert@arkansas.gov


Refugee Resettlement Program

The Refugee Resettlement Program provides services to refugee families during the first five years of residency in the United States. The program is designed to assist refugees in the difficult task of adjusting to a new way of life in a new homeland. Refugees may apply for cash, medical and food program assistance at Department of Human Services offices in their county of residence.

Specialized services are available to refugees living in the Fort Smith/Van Buren area through the Fort Smith Adult Education Center, located at 501 South 20th Street, in Fort Smith Arkansas. The program offers services in job re-certification, training and placement, social adjustment, health related services, interpreter services and English as a second language.

The personnel at the center may assist in applying for Social Security cards and obtaining health screenings for new arrivals. Persons wishing to complete high school may study and test for their GED at the center. Study booklets are available for driver’s license and citizenship testing.

Questions may be directed to:

Lorie Williams

Program Manager

Department of  Human Services

DPS, MS 334

P.O. Box 1437

Little Rock AR 72203

(501) 682-8256

For more information about the Office of Program
Planning and Development, please contact:

Linda Greer, Assistant Director
Arkansas Department of  Human Services
Division of County Operations
Office of Program Planning and Development
P.O. Box 1437 - MS S332
Little Rock, AR 72203
Telephone: 501-682-8257
Fax: 501-682-1597
E-Mail linda.greer@arkansas.gov


Arkansas Department of Human Services
Slot S201
P.O. Box 1437
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
(501) 682-8650