Services

Detailed information on our core services

Arkansas CARES serves addicted mothers, their children, and their families. Established in 1992, the mission of Arkansas CARES is to provide a family-centered approach to decrease maternal substance abuse and promote healthy family outcomes through prevention, treatment, education, research and advocacy.

Arkansas CARES offers comprehensive, coordinated services to decrease maternal addiction and lessen addiction’s harmful effects on children, families, and our community. Most women served by Arkansas CARES enter the program either pregnant or with young children, single, poor, unemployed, with health problems and legal difficulties ranging from child protection cases to drug-related arrests.

Arkansas CARES is licensed as a substance abuse treatment center, mental health provider for children and adults, childcare center for infants through age 12, and provider of early intervention services.

We provide:

• Individual, group & family education and therapy
• Intervention within the schools
• Case Management
• Nursing Services
• Child Care
• Transportation
• Life Skills Training
• Parenting Education
• Employment Preparation
• GED Coordination

Arkansas CARES has proven its effectiveness by demonstrating:

• Improved birth & child outcomes
• Decreased maternal drug use
• Increased maternal employment and income
• Decreased maternal depression
• Decreased arrests
• Decreased parenting stress
• Decreased child abuse & neglect
• Improved ability of children to resist alcohol or drugs

Since 1992, through collaboration and advocacy, the following services have been added in response to identified family needs:

• On-site residential services for 33 mothers and their children
• On-site child care for ages 0-12
• On-site health clinic
• On-site and community-based Early Intervention Services
• On-site and community-based mental health prevention and treatment services for women and children
• On-site summer youth prevention program
• On-site ABC classrooms
• On-site and statewide training to health and childcare professionals
• Building Bridges continuum care program for graduates.

Funding is primarily through federal, state and local government sources, including the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Arkansas Department of Health, the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the City of Little Rock. Private foundations such as The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Charles A. Frueuff Foundation, The Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, community organizations such as Altrusa International Inc of Little Rock and individuals of Arkansas also support this innovative program.  Ecumenical church support is strong and appreciated.  Individual volunteer opportunities are diverse and needed.