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. Residence wings are defined by age and gender.
Why and how are children placed at Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter?
The overwhelming majority of Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter residents are placed there by the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Children & Family Services (DCFS), in response to a report or allegation of child abuse or neglect or an intervention by law enforcement. A few children are placed by their foster families for “respite care.” An example of respite care would be a situation in which a foster family has a need to travel out-of-state during a time when the child has a scheduled court appearance, etc. The three major incident/report types that result in a child coming to the Children’s Shelter break down roughly as follows:
- Neglect – 80 percent
- Physical abuse – 15 percent
- Sexual abuse – 5 percent