CarePortal Launch: The Church in Crawford County Answers the Call

“Whenever my car is on the side of the road, I have somebody to call. They don't. And when you don't have somebody to call that's crisis, right?"

At the Crawford County CarePortal Launch, Becky Petty of the 100 Families Initiative framed the heart of the issue facing families in crisis—not a lack of effort or desire, but a lack of support.

"So on the side of the road, your vehicle gets towed. You can't pay the tow truck, right? You don't have enough money for that. You lose your job, then you lose your house. And now your children are maybe getting taken from you, or you're just you're homeless, you're looking for a shelter. All because they didn't have somebody to call. The church wants to answer that call. Right? We want to be the neighbors that can help and walk alongside these people that are just trying to survive.”

One broken-down car. One unmet need. One moment without anyone to call can lead to a cascade of consequences that can unravel a family’s stability.

CarePortal exists to interrupt that spiral.

CarePortal is a technology-driven care-sharing platform that connects real-time, verified needs of children and families in crisis with a trusted network of caring neighbors—mobilizing churches and community partners to turn awareness into immediate, meaningful action.

Led by Matt Whitson and Heather Sanders of Arkansas Family Alliance, the launch in Crawford County highlighted a shared mission within CarePortal: to work collaboratively across systems to meet tangible needs for families in crisis—doing so with compassion, dignity, and faith in action.

That sense of opportunity—and responsibility—was evident throughout the room. As Whitson shared during the launch, what was present was more than attendance.

“What we have is a power. It’s a power of collaboration.”

Five churches have already committed to being part of the CarePortal network in Crawford County:

• Merge

• Butterfield Church

• First Baptist Van Buren

• First Baptist Cedarville

• Road to Zion Bible Church

Together, these congregations represent the foundation of a growing, countywide response—one rooted in collaboration between the Church, Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services, and community initiatives like the 100 Families Initiative.

The launch wasn’t just symbolic—it was immediately put into action.

During the event, partners fulfilled Crawford County’s first live CarePortal request: support for an expecting mother who had escaped domestic violence and recently secured safe housing for herself and her children.

Through coordinated partnerships, the following needs were met:

• Two car seats (infant and toddler)

• A bassinet

• A twin mattress and sheets

Each item was provided by a different partner—demonstrating how CarePortal serves as a connector that allows the community to move quickly and collectively when a family is in crisis.

“It’s a collaboration of people who have the same common vision, the same common goal. It’s a community of people from the state and from the church.” Matt Whitson

Throughout the launch, speakers emphasized that CarePortal is not about charity alone—it is about presence, consistency, and relationship. By meeting immediate physical needs, churches are given the opportunity to walk alongside families during moments of crisis and transition.

Petty emphasized the impact for families, “Care Portal allows us to come in, provide that physical need, that immediate need to family in crisis and say, we care about you. The church cares about you. Jesus cares about you.”

For child welfare professionals, the impact is just as tangible.

Amanda Hays of DCFS shared how CarePortal reduces the time and strain spent trying to locate resources—allowing staff to focus on safety, stability, and long-term outcomes for families.

She recalls when she first heard about CarePortal—its technology and its real time connection to people who care. “It just kind of took my breath away after doing casework for so long, for so many years and our feet on the ground. We are calling, just trying to find a neighbor, trying to find anyone who might have an extra bed or bassinet or just anything to spare so that we can ensure their safe sleep in a home with a woman who doesn't have anything.”

With churches trained, partners aligned, and the first need already met, CarePortal’s launch in Crawford County marks the beginning of a sustainable, community-driven approach to prevention and family support.