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Interim Head Chosen For Arkansas Child Welfare System

An Arkansas Department of Human Services attorney has been tapped to head the state's child welfare system.

The department on Tuesday announced that Mischa Martin had been chosen to serve as its interim director of the Division of Children and Family Services while the agency searches for a permanent director. Martin begins April 1 and replaces Cecile Blucker, who announced earlier this year that she planned to step down as director at the end of March.

Martin joined the department in 2008.

Blucker's exit came several months after an outside review said Arkansas' child welfare system is burdened by a high caseload and lack of foster homes. Gov. Asa Hutchinson tapped $1 million from the state's rainy day fund to hire more workers.

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