• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

  • Who We Are
    • About NWACS
    • Our Impact
    • Leadership Team
  • What We Do
    • Emergency Shelter
    • Horizon Academy
    • Foster for the Future
    • Hope Academy
  • How to Help
    • Donate
    • Needs List
    • Volunteer
    • Events
  • News
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Careers

Hope Academy

On October 10, 2019, the Arkansas Department of Education Board of Directors unanimously ratified the Arkansas Charter Authorizing Panel approval of Hope Academy of Northwest Arkansas! Hope Academy, the first trauma-centered school in Arkansas, opened its doors on the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter campus in August 2020. The charter school is an expansion of the mission of the Shelter and fills an educational gap that currently exists in Northwest Arkansas. Children who have experienced trauma, many of whom have the same profile as our current residents, are now able to find specialized, small classes taught by trauma-trained teachers who strive to create a safe environment for the children to learn, cope, manage and thrive. Our teachers and staff are specially trained to provide an educational space for learners with unique needs. Our team-based approach fosters student success by understanding and meeting physiological, social and emotional needs of students.

For more than 24 years, the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter has operated a school on site for residents of the Shelter. Our goal now is to expand those much-needed services to children throughout Northwest Arkansas who will benefit greatly from a trauma-centered educational setting. This expansion of services will allow us to begin to break the cycle of abuse and trauma and provide hope to vulnerable children and families.

For more information, visit hopeacademynwa.org.

Demonte

Recently, we had an intelligent, hard-working young man in our care. His name was Demonte* and he was 15 years old. One day, he got upset in class and took off out of the building like he was planning to run away. This is not an uncommon reaction from the children in our care. Many […]

Read more about DemonteImpact stories

Meet Demonte

Recently, we had an intelligent, hard-working young man in our care. His name was Demonte* and he was 15 years old. One day, he got upset in class and took off out of the building like he was planning to run away. This is not an uncommon reaction from the children in our care. Many have been taught that their only two options, when circumstances are beyond their control, are fight or flight. This time, Demonte chose flight.
Lisa, one of our amazing Youth Care Specialists, followed after him and was calling out his name to stop him from walking away. Finally, he did stop and Lisa was able to convince him to return. Later that afternoon, when he was talking through what had happened, he said, “When I heard Mrs. Lisa saying my name, it made me realize that no one in my family or in my life would ever have cared if I ran away. The only reason I stopped is because I knew Mrs. Lisa must care about me because she came after me.”
This is just one story, among hundreds each year, that shows how much our youth care staff impact the children in our care – every day. It is an honor to be here for these kids when they need us the most.
*name and image changed to protect privacy

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

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

While at the Shelter, I got to do two things for the first time – roller skating and bowling!

Sharee, age 12

Footer

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

Referral Form

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!

More information

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
Copyright © 2025 Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter · All rights reserved.
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • How to Help
  • News
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Careers