Arkansas Communities Answer the Call to Prevent Child Abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time when communities across the country unite to raise awareness and take action to protect the most vulnerable—our children. In Arkansas, the 100 Families Initiative is leading this effort with a collaborative model that’s producing measurable, lasting change. By forming local alliances across the state, 100 Families harnesses the power of collective impact to address the underlying causes of family instability and prevent abuse before it happens. With the right support systems and meaningful relationships in place, we believe most cases of child abuse can be prevented.

A Vision for Hope and Prevention

Led by Restore Hope, the 100 Families Initiative is focused on helping families achieve long-term stability by breaking down barriers between agencies and fostering strong, coordinated partnerships. Rather than reacting to crises, local 100 Families Alliances take a proactive approach—tackling the root issues that often lead to child maltreatment, such as poverty, substance use, mental health challenges, and limited access to essential resources like housing and transportation.

Each alliance brings together diverse partners—from law enforcement and the judicial system to schools, nonprofits, faith-based groups, and mental health professionals. These teams work collaboratively, sharing data, aligning strategies, and utilizing the HopeHub platform to identify service gaps and deliver timely, comprehensive support to families in need.

Collective Impact in Action

The majority of the 3,314 parents who were served by these alliances in 2024 were parents who were struggling in multiple areas of the social determinants of health, like not having a job, transportation, or childcare and also struggling with mental health issues or housing stability. They were connected to a Family Advocate and to Care Teams, where they receive motivational interviewing, resource navigation, and ongoing coaching. Many of these families are at risk of their children being removed from their home and being placed in foster care, but thanks to 100 Families Alliance Members, they are finding stability and healing.  See the annual report outcome data by county here: https://www.restorehope.io/annual-report-2024

With trauma-informed care and employment support, more families are reaching their goals and are safely avoiding involvement with the child welfare system altogether. It's happening. Child abuse is being prevented, and families are safer.  

Results That Matter

The impact of 100 Families is clear. Families served by the initiative are achieving stability at significantly higher rates than those navigating systems on their own. The model is demonstrating that when communities work together—sharing responsibility, resources, and results—child abuse can be prevented, and families can thrive.

Statewide, DCFS is reporting a decrease in the number of foster care cases—a powerful testament to the vital role community members play in supporting families, including churches, mental health providers, employment agencies, courts, and everyday people stepping up to care for their neighbors.

The Initiative is currently undergoing a third-party evaluation led by the University of Notre Dame’s Laboratory for Economic Development, that will establish 100 Families as a potential evidence-based practice, setting the stage for even broader implementation.

Answering the Call

Preventing child abuse requires more than awareness—it requires action, innovation, and unity. The 100 Families Alliances across Arkansas are answering that call every day, proving that when we come together around families in crisis, we can build communities where every child is safe, every parent is supported, and hope is restored.