# Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-104: Best interest of the child

> Arkansas · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-104

## Section

- **Citation:** Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-104
- **Heading:** Best interest of the child
- **Jurisdiction:** Arkansas
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** AR Code / Title 9 / Chapter 28 / Subchapter 1 / Section 9-28-104

## Text

(a) The General Assembly recognizes that children are defenseless and that there is no greater moral obligation upon the General Assembly than to provide for the protection of our children and that our child welfare system needs to be strengthened by establishing a clear policy of the state that the best interests of the children must be paramount and shall have precedence at every stage of juvenile court proceedings. (b) The best interest of the child shall be the standard for recommendations made by employees of the Department of Human Services as to whether a child should be reunited with his or her family or removed from or remain in a home wherein the child has been abused or neglected. Acts 2011, No. 591, § 1

(a) The General Assembly recognizes that children are defenseless and that there is no greater moral obligation upon the General Assembly than to provide for the protection of our children and that our child welfare system needs to be strengthened by establishing a clear policy of the state that the best interests of the children must be paramount and shall have precedence at every stage of juvenile court proceedings.

(b) The best interest of the child shall be the standard for recommendations made by employees of the Department of Human Services as to whether a child should be reunited with his or her family or removed from or remain in a home wherein the child has been abused or neglected.

Acts 2011, No. 591, § 1

## Nearby sections

- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-101 Legislative intent and purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-101.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-102 Creation of the Division of Children and Family Services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-102.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-103 Division of Children and Family Services - Powers and duties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-103.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-104 Best interest of the child](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-104.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-105 Preference to relative caregivers for a child in foster care](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-105.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-106 Religious preference - Removal of barriers to inter-ethnic adoption](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-106.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-107 Notice when juvenile transferred to custody of department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-107.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-108 Placement of juveniles - Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-108.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-109 Notice of move in foster care placement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-109.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-110 Smoking in the presence of foster children](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-110.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-111 Case plans - Definition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-111.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-112 Foster children and educational issues](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-112.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-113 Continuity of educational services to foster children](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-113.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-28-114 Foster youth transition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-114.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C28_S1_S9-28-104. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.