FAQs

·    How long will it take DHS to get my records I asked for? Provided your request is not prohibited under the FOIA, the agency is required under law to respond to and to provide the records within three (3) business days. Given some circumstances, additional time may be required for the collection and potential redaction of records. At that point, you would be notified.

·    I submitted a request for my records and was denied, why can’t I get copies of my SNAP and MEDICAID records? When we say that something cannot be released under FOIA, we do not necessarily mean that it cannot be released at all. Rather, we mean that the release may be governed by another statute. Documents that are exempt under FOIA may still be releasable under the terms of other laws. For instance, you are entitled to your medical/Medicaid records under HIPAA, and you are entitled to your SNAP records under the USDA’s SNAP regulation, though they are exempt from FOIA. Such records should be obtained by reaching out to your county office directly.

·    Where do I go to get copies of my child’s maltreatment investigation records? Arkansas has numerous statutes, including the FOIA, on the protection and disclosure of child maltreatment records. You will need to work with the DHS Division of Children and Family Services Central Registry Unit to request child maltreatment central registry statuses and maltreatment/protective services case information and records. You can find contact information and answers to other questions and forms here.

·    I requested Long Term Care licensure and survey records and didn’t get everything. Why? Requests made for licensure and survey records must be specific in language because these come from different divisions. If cost reporting, change of ownership/operational control, Administrator’s license, and agency performance evaluations are needed along with the licensure apps and documents, it must be stated in the request. Additionally, most state and federal surveys can be found online here.