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Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

  • Who We Are
    • About NWACS
    • Our Impact
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    • Horizon Academy
    • Foster for the Future
    • Hope Academy
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Who We Are

About NWACS

How We Help

The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter is a private, non-profit organization that provides a safe place of healing for children throughout Arkansas who are victims of abandonment, abuse, neglect and trafficking. Composed of three pillars: The Shelter, Hope Academy and Foster for the Future, our programs utilize and develop cutting-edge practices, grounded in over 30 years of trauma-centered research, to meet the needs of children who have experienced significant trauma. We are dedicated to continuing to develop high-quality programs and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that will guide best practices for decades to come.

Our Values


Head

We foster a culture of strategy and innovation.

hope

We provide the foundation for a better tomorrow.

heart

We serve our children, families and staff with compassion and dedication.

hands

We work collaboratively and respectfully, striving for excellence in all we do.

Our History

In the late 1980s, Juvenile Court Judge Terry Crabtree learned that Benton County children were sleeping overnight in DHS offices because there was a shortage of foster homes in Northwest Arkansas.

He rallied a group of community leaders to the cause, and the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter was incorporated in July 1991. Through an outpouring of community support, including hundreds of volunteer hours, the funds were raised to hire a staff and secure a location. The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter officially opened its doors on December 6, 1993, with five girls in residence.

Throughout our 30 year history, we have served more than 13,000 children in need of a safe haven and loving care – providing each of them hope for a brighter future.

Our Campus

Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter 1993 – 2011
Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter 2011 – present

Take a Tour

Enjoy this tour of our campus! Children come to us from across the state of Arkansas. If it’s their first stay with us, they don’t know what to expect. We designed this video to give them a quick tour of our campus so they know that they’re coming to a safe, caring, fun place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter only serve kids from Northwest Arkansas?

In spite of its geographically specific name, Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter serves children from throughout the state of Arkansas. The majority of its residents come from Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison counties, but many come from the River Valley and Central Arkansas, as well.

How many children can Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter accommodate?

Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter currently has a total 32 beds, divided into three residence wings – a boys wing, a girls wing and a flex wing.

Why and how are children placed at Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter?

The majority of Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter residents are placed here by the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Children & Family Services (DCFS), in response to a report or allegation of child abuse, abandonment, neglect. Victims of child trafficking are also placed at the Shelter after an intervention by law enforcement. 

Lola

This young lady has been with us for more than two months. When she first arrived, she could only count to 8 and didn’t recognize numbers above 5 by sight. She also only knew about 6 letters and no sounds. She attends school on-site here at the Shelter and is in Ms. Anaiya’s elementary class. […]

Read more about LolaImpact stories

Meet Lola

This young lady has been with us for more than two months. When she first arrived, she could only count to 8 and didn’t recognize numbers above 5 by sight. She also only knew about 6 letters and no sounds. She attends school on-site here at the Shelter and is in Ms. Anaiya’s elementary class. By the end of the first quarter of the school year, she can now count to 30 and identifies numbers up to 20 when shown out of sequence. She also knows 24 letters and matching sounds! This sweet girl is overcoming memory issues and a language delay. Her hard work, along with the patience and caring of Ms. Anaiya, have allowed her to make huge progress. We are so proud of her!

*name changed to protect privacy

I learned that love is better than hate.

Tonya, age 17

I love it here because I feel safe. The staff are here for me when I need them. Plus, I got to go to a Razorback game!

Jesse, age 11

I felt like I was being taken care of for the first time.

Kyle, age 9

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Contact Us

860 NW Vaughn Road
Bentonville, AR 72713

Link to map
To find us using GPS, enter 14100 Vaughn Road, Bentonville

479-795-2417
website@nwacs.org

For DCFS use only

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Join Our Team

If you are interested in a rewarding job providing a safe haven and loving care to the most vulnerable children in our community, apply today!

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