Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of County Operations

PO Box 1437, Slot S301

Little Rock, AR  72203

501-682-8375

Mission Statement: The mission of DHS’ Division of County Operations is to ensure the delivery of quality human services that strengthen the health and wellbeing of Arkansas’ children, adults, and families.

Overview: The Division of County Operations provides leadership and support for 83 county offices in 75 counties. Caseworkers at the county offices work with Arkansans who are in need of public assistance. Programs and services currently offered include:

• Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment Assistance
• ARKids First Health Insurance: ARKids A offers low-income families a comprehensive package of benefits. ARKids B provides coverage for families with higher incomes.
• Commodity Distribution Program: The Commodity Distribution Program processes and distributes commodities donated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to schools and other eligible recipient agencies in Arkansas that participate in the National School Lunch Program and Summer Food Service Program.
• Community Services Block Grant Program: The Community Services Block Grant Program provides funds to support services and activities designed to assist low-income families to become self-sufficient. Services are provided through sixteen Community Action Agencies in the state.
• Emergency Food Assistance Program: The Emergency Food Assistance Program distributes commodities to food banks, soup kitchens, shelters, and other nonprofit agencies.
• Emergency Shelter Grants Program: The Emergency Shelter Grants Program assists local communities in helping to improve the quality of life for the homeless by providing resources for building repairs and support funds.
• Home Energy Assistance Program: The Home Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance to help households meet the costs of home energy, including gas and electricity. The program also offers weatherization services and case management activities, which are designed to encourage and enable households to reduce their energy costs.
• Refugee Resettlement Program: The Refugee Resettlement Program assists newly arrived eligible refugees to assimilate into the American way of life. The program offers financial and medical services to eligible refugees for up to eight months after arrival in the United States.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): SNAP provides food assistance to eligible households to cover a portion of a household’s food budget. Benefits are distributed through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. In addition to food assistance, the program provides SNAP recipients with nutrition education, employment and training, and work experience in some cases.
• Transitional Employment Assistance Program (TEA): TEA is a time-limited assistance program to help needy families with children become more responsible for their own support and less dependent on public assistance.
• Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): WAP installs energy conservation materials on the homes of low-income families to lower utility bills. Services performed generally include insulating ceilings; duct sealing; weather-stripping and caulking doors and windows; replacing broken windows; and health and safety measures that are required prior to weatherization.

Age Groups Served: ALL ages