Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

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Providing a safe haven.
High-quality care.
And hope.

Each year, hundreds of children find a safe haven and HOPE for the future at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. Beyond meeting their basic needs, our comprehensive services include individualized case management, counseling, education, medical and dental treatment, life skills training and trauma-centered care.

Give the gift of HOPE!

More than 230 children found HOPE at NWACS in FY24.
View our Impact Report to see how we’re changing lives, every day!

Why does Northwest Arkansas need a Children’s Shelter?

Our Impact

Since 1993, more than 13,000 children have been welcomed into the safe haven of the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter.

Volunteer

Learn more about how you can change the lives of children in crisis.

Events

Support the mission of the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter while having fun with your friends!

Needs List

A list of much-needed items that will directly benefit the children in our care.

Thank you to our Annual Partners!

Email signup

Hear stories from our kids, learn more about our programs and find out about upcoming events in our monthly eNewsletter.

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Judea

Judea fought her whole life to be free of abuse and neglect. She finally escaped that world and arrived at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter where she immediately began to thrive.

Read more about JudeaImpact stories

Meet Judea

Judea fought her whole life to be free of abuse and neglect. She finally escaped that world and arrived at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter where she immediately began to thrive. For the first time in 17 years, she imagined living a normal life just like every other high school student. This included a wish to go to high school prom.

Casey, her case manager during her stay at the Children’s Shelter, shares:

“My heart is filled with so much joy! I got the privilege to go to prom with one of my kiddos from the shelter. No, it wasn’t a typical prom situation, but when a kiddo finally escapes abuse for the first time in 17 years, we do all we can to make it a perfect night for her. She is strong, resilient, courageous, unique, ambitious and unassuming. She inspires me and she is one of the million reasons I will never stop fighting for these kids. Prom night was a sweet reminder that no matter how many hard days we have to face, these special moments make every single hard day completely worth it. If these kiddos can endure years and years of abuse, then we can endure an infinite number of hard days. We have to, because they need us.”

Casey Krisell, former Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter Case Manager

The best thing that I love about the Shelter is the acceptance. No matter where any of us came from, we are accepted here.

Melanie, age 15

Thanks you NWACS, I now have a bright and successful future. I can’t say thank you enough and I will never forget the amazing people here.

Sammy, age 16

I went to the on-site school which I liked because it gave me one-on-one time and that’s what I needed to help get my grades up and catch up on all my credits so I can graduate. I would like to thank all of the staff at the Shelter for making me and my son feel safe and taken care of.

Teresa, age 17