LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Eight missing and endangered children in Arkansas were safely recovered or located during Operation HOPE, a multi-agency effort led by the Arkansas State Police (ASP) in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners. The operation, which spanned four days and began on Aug. 18, targeted high-risk cases, including minors reported missing from foster care.
According to ASP, four Arkansas foster children were reported missing at the start of the operation. Three of these children were safely recovered on the first day. During the course of the operation, agencies responded to six additional cases involving missing or endangered youth across the state. In total, ten children were investigated, with eight ultimately located safely.
Among the eight safely located were seven children in the care of the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The operation also located two children from Colorado reported missing from their foster placements, who were found in Arkansas. Cases included children missing from foster and residential placements, an alleged abduction, and incidents with potential indicators of human trafficking.
Two Arkansas foster children remain missing, ASP confirmed. Investigative efforts to locate them safely are ongoing.
“Every missing child case demands an immediate, coordinated response,” said Sgt. Matt Foster, the Arkansas Human Trafficking Coordinator. “Operation HOPE brought together the expertise and resources of law enforcement, child welfare professionals, and federal partners to locate vulnerable children, investigate the circumstances surrounding their disappearance, and ensure they receive the support they need once they are found.”
The operation was carried out by ASP, DCFS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the HHS Office of Inspector General, and other law enforcement and child welfare organizations. It builds on Arkansas’ VALOR initiative, launched in January 2024, which fosters a statewide network of law enforcement, advocates, service providers, and agencies dedicated to improving responses to cases involving missing and endangered children.
Statistics from Arkansas reflect progress since VALOR began. At its inception, Arkansas had 184 active missing-child cases, including an average of 40 to 50 children missing from foster care at any given time. As of Aug. 21, 2026, Arkansas has 80 active missing-person cases involving individuals under 18. Of those, 30 are currently minors, with only two cases involving foster children.
“Every child in foster care deserves protection, so when they go missing, it is our utmost responsibility to bring them home,” said Alex J. Adams, Assistant Secretary of ACF. “When the Trump administration launched Operation HOPE in May, we promised to replicate its success across the nation. We are proud to have done so with Arkansas, and we will keep working until every child in the nation is accounted for and safe.”