UAFS to Lead 100 Families Initiative in Sebastian County

Collaboration has always existed between the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith (UAFS) and Restore Hope in order to expand the impact of the 100 Families Initiative in Sebastian County and advance a shared mission to move families from crisis to career.

Now, UAFS will assume the role of backbone organization for the 100 Families Initiative of Sebastian County, integrating the Family Advocate Coordinator into its Department of Social Work. This fully grant-funded partnership will not only grow local capacity and sustainability, but also embed long-term solutions within the university’s social impact framework.

“Moving the 100 Families Initiative under UAFS is a natural and important next step,” noted Paul Chapman, Executive Director of Restore Hope. “UAFS brings capacity, stability and an academic rigor to ensure that what was started in 2018 doesn’t just continue, but it thrives.”

The strengthened partnership was officially announced at the campus today, where statewide leaders, local champions, and community partners gathered to mark this significant step for families in the River Valley.

Tiffany Wright, Director of the Division of Children and Family Services, highlighted the long-term impact of the partnership, saying: “Today’s announcement of partnership lays the foundation for the next one, three, even five years where we will continue to build strong families and bright communities.”

The 100 Families Initiative began in Sebastian County six years ago with a goal to collaboratively move 100 families from crisis to career. The initiative is now thriving in 19 counties across Arkansas and is expanding to other states as well.

Dr. Terisa Riley, Chancellor of UAFS said that the decision to connect the work of the initiative to the social work department was an easy one, not only because of the University's commitment to civil responsibility and long connection to Restore Hope, but also because of her own personal experience.

Dr. Riley recounted her early struggles as a single mother of four children—having them all in less than three years—while working as a waitress and earning less than $10,000 a year.

Dr. Riley recalled what she felt when applying for public assistance, saying, “I remember the embarrassment and the shame and the guilt that I felt the day I went to sign up for Women, Infants, and Children. I remember feeling like I was a failure as a mom.”

Her journey from that difficult season to earning her doctorate and becoming a university chancellor is a testament to the kind of transformation a hand up and community support helps make possible for families.

“Restore Hope is here for families like mine where they understand that all they need is a chance and an opportunity,” she affirmed.

Ted Dickey, a University of Arkansas Trustee and Restore Hope Board Member, emphasized the significance of the new partnership as a united effort to drive real change for families in need.

“This is a commitment between this university and Restore Hope to change families,” he said, underscoring the shared mission of both institutions. He also spoke to the shift in approach within the community, moving beyond surface-level solutions to create lasting impact: “So we have just stopped being satisfied with treating symptoms in this community. And it’s been—it’s working.”

This shift from short-term fixes to long-term solutions is not just philosophical—it’s producing measurable results. Chapman shared compelling data that illustrates the transformative power of the 100 Families Initiative in Sebastian County.

While the statewide average reunification rate hovers around 43%, families engaged in the initiative are experiencing reunification rates of over 70%. Since the program's launch, the number of children in foster care in Sebastian County has dropped dramatically—from nearly 900 in 2017 to just 359 today. This significant decline reflects not only improvements in family stability and child welfare prevention, but also broader system-wide benefits: local crime and incarceration rates are also down, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of coordinated community action.

Courtnee Harlan, the recently appointed coordinator for the 100 Families Initiative of Sebastian County has seen this impact first hand through her work as a family advocate.

"I’ve looked in the eyes of families who have felt hopeless, who were lost in crisis. And time after time, I’ve witnessed this community step up and help them work towards stability and thriving lives. That’s not something that happens everywhere. That’s the power of partnership and that’s the strength of this alliance."

This kind of meaningful, community-driven support is what sets Sebastian County apart—a place where no one has to face hardship alone. It’s a model of what can happen when people come together with shared purpose and resolve. As Mayor George McGill put it, “Together, we are reinforcing the idea that every family deserves a chance, and with collaboration and commitment, we can offer that chance.”