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Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

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FAQ

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

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

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

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

The staff treated me as if I were their family. They were always there for me and always reminded me of my worth.

Kiyasha, age 15

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Contact Us

860 NW Vaughn Road
Bentonville, AR 72713

479-795-2417
website@nwacs.org

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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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