Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Emergency Shelter

Emergency Shelter

The Emergency Shelter program focuses on meeting the basic needs of the children so they can feel safe and begin to heal from the trauma they have experienced. Meeting these basic needs is one of the first ways that our staff can begin to build trust with the children in our care – many of whom have never been able to trust the adults in their lives. These basic needs include:

  • A warm bed
  • Consistent, balanced meals
  • Healthy snacks
  • Clean, well-fitting clothing
  • Access to baths/showers and personal hygiene items

And most importantly

  • Loving care provided 24-hours per day

Seth

Seth* had a tough beginning in life. His mother was not someone who could be trusted or relied upon. Because of her own struggles with drug abuse and mental health, she couldn’t provide the very basics of care for Seth. As a young child, Seth was raised, off and on, by his grandparents. However, when […]

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Meet Seth

Seth* had a tough beginning in life. His mother was not someone who could be trusted or relied upon. Because of her own struggles with drug abuse and mental health, she couldn’t provide the very basics of care for Seth. As a young child, Seth was raised, off and on, by his grandparents. However, when they passed away, he was forced to return to his mother’s care.

Frightened and alone, doing what he could to survive without any support at home, Seth found himself in a downward spiral.

That’s when he arrived at the Shelter. When Seth walked through the doors of the Shelter, he was scared, angry and withdrawn. He kept his hood up and wasn’t comfortable with eye contact, personal communication or any acts of love or affection.

He wasn’t used to being surrounded by adults focused on meeting his needs. He had raised himself for most of his life. Within the safety of the Shelter, he had to learn how to trust.

While at the Shelter, Seth was able to recover his high school credits and graduate on schedule. He learned many new life skills, such as laundry, cooking, cleaning and money management. He is currently living independently, enjoying a new job and looking forward to starting college in the spring. His future is much brighter because of the care he received at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter.

*name and image changed to protect privacy

Due to a rough childhood, I had lost all hope in life. The Shelter changed my life for the better. I’ve been given opportunities I never, ever thought I could get in life.”

Rhiannon, age 17

While at the Shelter, I went from an 8th grade math level to almost a 12th grade level. I’m pretty proud of that.

Tasha, age 17

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