(a)(1) The Department of Human Services shall establish the "Continuum of Care Program" for certain pregnant women and parents.
(2)The department may contract with entities to operate the program.
(3)The procurement of a vendor shall be done through the Arkansas Procurement Law, § 19-11-201 et seq., by the Office of State Procurement.
(b)(1) The purpose of the program is to facilitate the operation of a statewide telemedicine support network that provides community outreach, consultations, and care coordination for women who are challenged with unexpected pregnancies.
(2)The program shall:
(A)Encourage healthy childbirth;
(B)Support childbirth as an alternative to abortion;
(C)Promote family formation;
(D)Assist parents in establishing successful parenting techniques; and (E) Incr
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(a) (1) The Department of Human Services shall establish the "Continuum of Care Program" for certain pregnant women and parents. (2) The department may contract with entities to operate the program. (3) The procurement of a vendor shall be done through the Arkansas Procurement Law, § 19-11-201 et seq., by the Office of State Procurement. (b) (1) The purpose of the program is to facilitate the operation of a statewide telemedicine support network that provides community outreach, consultations, and care coordination for women who are challenged with unexpected pregnancies. (2) The program shall: (A) Encourage healthy childbirth; (B) Support childbirth as an alternative to abortion; (C) Promote family formation; (D) Assist parents in establishing successful parenting techniques; and (E) Increase the economic self-sufficiency of families. (c) (1) The program shall utilize a statewide telemedicine support network to facilitate the services and resources described under subsection (e) of this section. (2) The department shall provide by rule for the functions and administration of the telemedicine support network. (d) The department shall finance the program with funds appropriated to the department by the General Assembly for operation of the program. (e) (1) The program shall provide direct services, supports, social services case management, and referrals to biological parents of unborn children and biological or adoptive parents of children under two (2) years of age. (2) The program shall include: (A) Outreach to at-risk populations eligible for the program; (B) Use of licensed nurses, community health workers, or other individuals of equivalent expertise to: (i) Assess and evaluate program participant needs related to pregnancy or parenting; (ii) Assist program participants in obtaining medical and mental health care; and (iii) Provide medically accurate, pregnancy-related medical information to program participants; and (C) Use of licensed social workers, nurses, community health workers, licensed professional counselors, or other individuals of equivalent experience to: (i) Develop a care plan, resources, and supports for program participants to address identified needs; (ii) Refer program participants to local resources including without limitation state and federal benefits programs and local charitable organizations; and (iii) Assist program participants in: (a) Applying for state and federal benefits programs; and (b) Accomplishing elements of the care plan. (f) Any organization contracted by the department to provide services under this section and any of its subcontractors or agents providing services under this section shall: (1) Maintain the confidentiality of information obtained while performing program services, including complying with state law; (2) Not provide or prescribe abortion services or abortion aid; (3) Not promote, refer for, facilitate, or assist women in obtaining abortion services or abortion aid; (4) Not own or operate an abortion provider; (5) Not own or operate with a person who promotes, refers for, facilitates, or assists women in obtaining an abortion; (6) Not employ an individual who has performed or induced an abortion in the last two (2) years; and (7) Not have a director, board member, officer, volunteer, or employee who performed or induced an abortion in the last two (2) years or who serves in any of these roles described in this subsection. (g) Any program participant who terminates a pregnancy shall be eligible to continue receiving services through the program for a period of six (6) months from the date of the pregnancy termination. (h) (1) On or before October 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the Legislative Council a report on the status and operation of the program. (2) Each report required by subdivision (h)(1) of this section shall include: (A) The number of individuals served by the program, and for the individuals served; and (B) The types of referrals and services provided to program participants. (3) Information provided to the department shall not include any personally identifying information regarding program participants. (i) The department shall promulgate rules necessary to implement this section.