Batesville School District Honored for Innovation & Collaboration

In Independence County, innovation isn’t coming from a single program or organization—it’s emerging from collaboration. Over the past year, a unique partnership between the Batesville School District and local providers through the 100 Families Alliance has reshaped how the community responds to families in crisis, creating a coordinated, people-centered system that is producing measurable results.

With just two dedicated staff members—a coordinator and an advocate—the 100 Families team has served 146 local families in the last 12 months. Of those families, 48 have successfully moved from crisis to career, and the community has seen an 85% increase in full-time employment among participants. The initiative’s top referral source is the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), with more than 90% of all foster care cases in the county now being served through this collaborative model.

The Batesville School District serves as both host and active partner for The 100 Families Initiative of Independence County, recognizing that family stability and student success are deeply connected. By opening doors to collaboration and aligning community resources, the district has played a critical role in removing barriers related to employment, transportation, housing, and navigating complex systems.

These coordinated supports don’t just stabilize households—they strengthen learning environments. When families have what they need to thrive, students are better positioned to succeed in school and beyond.

In less than one year, the 100 Families Initiative of Independence County has aligned businesses, nonprofits, faith leaders, educators, and service providers around shared goals and shared accountability. This approach is becoming a nationwide model for moving away from fragmented services toward coordinated care, with new sites forming in Iowa and Tennessee this year.

Excellence in Community Collaboration

That impact was formally recognized at the annual awards celebration hosted by the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. More than 500 business and community leaders gathered for the Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Gala—The Derby Gala—held January 23 at the Batesville Community Center to celebrate momentum, innovation, and bold leadership across Batesville and Independence County.

At the gala, 100 Families Independence County and the Batesville School District were awarded Excellence in Community Collaboration, recognizing their shared commitment to helping families move from crisis to career through meaningful partnerships and coordinated support.

Taylor Meharg, President of FARCO and Batesville Area Chamber Board Member stated, "In less than a year, 100 Families has transformed how the community responds to crisis, uniting businesses, nonprofits, faith leaders, and service providers to deliver coordinated, life‑changing support for families. Through collaborative leadership, the initiative has quickly become one of Arkansas’s strongest models for moving families from crisis to career—proof of what’s possible when a community works together with purpose and accountability."

The award is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when schools, service providers, and community leaders work together—not in silos, but in alignment. As Independence County continues to build on this momentum, the partnerships formed through the Batesville School District and the 100 Families Initiative stand as a clear example of how collaboration can drive lasting change—helping families thrive and strengthening the future of the entire community.