The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and Restore Hope will announce a transformative new partnership to expand the 100 Families Initiative in Sebastian County.
Beginning July 1, UAFS will become the backbone organization of the 100 Families Initiative of Sebastian County, embedding the organization’s Family Advocate Coordinator as a staff member in its Department of Social Work. This collaboration underscores the university’s commitment to empowering families and driving social mobility across the River Valley.
An official announcement will be made on May 19 at 10 a.m. in the Reynolds Room of the UAFS Campus Center. Statewide leaders, community partners, and local champions for families will gather to celebrate this powerful step forward.
With this fully grant-funded partnership, UAFS will serve as the new lead organization for the 100 Families Initiative of Sebastian County, growing local leadership and sustainability.
“This partnership is incredibly meaningful, as it will allow the Department of Social Work to deepen its role in helping individuals move from crisis to stability,” said Chancellor Terisa Riley. “It also strengthens our mission to serve this community, providing the citizens of the River Valley a hand up when they need it most.”
“Moving the 100 Families Initiative under UAFS is a natural and important next step,” said Restore Hope Executive Director Paul Chapman. “By embedding 100 Families within UAFS, we’re strengthening the foundation for sustainable, community-led solutions.”
The 100 Families Initiative began as a conversation in a UAFS boardroom more than a decade ago. Today, it operates in 19 Arkansas counties and has expanded as far as Michigan and Canada. Sebastian County, selected as the pilot site in 2019 due to critical challenges in incarceration and foster care, has since seen measurable reductions in both.
About the 100 Families Initiative
The 100 Families Initiative is a collaborative, community-driven model designed to help families move from crisis to stability and on to career using existing community resources. Recognizing that no single organization can meet all the complex needs a family may face—such as housing, employment, education, transportation, and mental health care—the initiative brings together partners from across sectors to work in alignment.
Nonprofits, government agencies, schools, businesses, and faith-based organizations join forces around a shared mission, coordinating their efforts, tracking progress through shared data, and holding each other accountable through ongoing communication. Progress is measured using HopeHub, a collaborative case management system that allows service providers to track family outcomes in real time. Monthly meetings, called alliance meetings, bring community partners together to share updates, remove barriers, and ensure families receive the comprehensive support they need to thrive.
Learn more about the 100 Families Initiative and its impact at www.restorehope.io or by reading the 2024 Annual Report at restorehope.io/annual-report-2024.
