10:33 Initiative Unites Church and Government for “No Wrong Door”

Leaders from across Pulaski County gathered at Second Baptist Church in Little Rock to officially launch the 10:33 Initiative — a collaborative effort designed to help Arkansans move from crisis to stability and ultimately toward career success. 

“We know you can't just jump from crisis to career, right? You got to get up on your feet first,” said Morgan Warbington of the Governor’s Office.

Warbington emphasized the complementary roles of government and the faith community. “Government programs are important. They're there for a reason. But the government is very transactional. It's not relational.” 

She explained that the 10:33 Initiative brings the strengths together. “It’s a collaborative effort to really bring state resources and community support together in one place to provide true wraparound services to people within your own community.”

Warbington contrasted the initiative with older service models. “If you have state resources and the nonprofit world, it's not just one door for help, it's any door. No matter where you enter into the system we can now provide wraparound support services for you, which is truly incredible.”

The goal, she said, is to eliminate unnecessary barriers. “You don't have to go on the goose chase for government documents.” 

Through integration with HopeHub — a collaborative case management platform developed by Restore Hope — service providers can securely build support teams around individuals, form a care plan, and coordinate services in real time. 

Second Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Maurice Watson said churches are often the first place people turn to for help. “People, I believe, are a bit more open to seeking help from faith-based organizations as opposed to going to governmental organizations in many respects.” 

He reflected on the story of the Good Samaritan. “Anybody, anyone who's on the side of the road who needs help is your neighbor.” 

“Unity does not mean uniformity. We can have various differences on a range of issues, but unity means can we find a cause that unites us,” he added.

Panelists described how the 100 Families Initiative that has been serving parts of Arkansas for several years through a unique collaborative model helped lay groundwork for the 10:33 Initiative. 

In Sebastian County, the 100 Families Initiative and the Restore Hope collaborative model reduced the number of children entering foster care from 28 per thousand to 14 per thousand,” explained Restore Hope Executive Director Paul Chapman. 

CarePortal was also highlighted as a powerful tool to mobilize immediate support through local churches. CarePortal is a technology platform that connects tangible needs directly to churches in real time. When a caseworker identifies a specific need — such as a bed, car seat, utility assistance, or essential household items — that request is entered into the system and instantly shared with participating churches in the area.

Church members can respond quickly, often meeting needs within hours or days. The goal is not just to provide tangible items, but to strengthen families and prevent crises from escalating. By addressing practical barriers early — like a child not having a bed or a parent lacking a car seat — communities can help stabilize families and reduce the likelihood of deeper system involvement.

In Arkansas, the Arkansas Family Alliance has used CarePortal to help coordinate responses across churches. In the past 16 months alone, more than 600 mattresses have been delivered to children in need — a simple but meaningful intervention that can make a critical difference for family stability.

“It's not just about the tangible need, though. Relationship matters just as much,” noted Heather Sanders of the Arkansas Family Alliance. 

Arkansas Representative Tara Shephard emphasized prevention and early intervention. “A lot of times prevention is quite important. We should take the pastor's advice and fix the road on the front end.”

Chief Executive Officer of Every Arkansan Drew Davis talked about the story of a mother in crisis who did not want to reach out to anyone for help. Then one day, her life spiraled out of control.

"She was a strong single mom who believed she could handle everything on her own. But one day, she ran out of gas. What followed was a chain reaction — her car was towed, she lost her job because she couldn't get to work, her rent fell behind, and within days she was facing the possibility of DHS taking her children into custody," explained Davis.

Davis said it's a powerful reminder that most crises don’t start with something very dramatic. They start small — and without community, they snowball. No single church. No single nonprofit. No single person can meet every need. But together, a community can.

Warbington closed by clarifying what the 10:33 Initiative is — and what it is not. “10:33 is not a government program. I don't want it to be a program. The success with 10:33 is not about the government. It has everything to do with the community and our churches and our faith partners and our nonprofits.” 

She encouraged attendees to view the initiative as their own. “When you think of the 10:33 Initiative, think of it as your own community project, because that's what it is.”

Below is a video about how churches can get involved in the 10:33 Initiative: