Restoring Hope in the River Valley: An Action Plan that Supports the Workforce - Karen Phillips, CGMS, Associate Director, Restore Hope, (Fort Smith, AR)

An initiative that began five years ago to reduce Arkansas’s high incarceration and foster care rates in Sebastian County has been so successful that it is being hailed as a national model. Sebastian County was the first county to be a part of the 100 Families initiative, which launched in 2018. The county was chosen for the initiative because of the high incarceration rate and the highest number of children in foster care in the state. Today, Sebastian County has seen a 50% decrease in the need for foster care and the city of Fort Smith has seen a 20% reduction in crime.

The model for the 100 Families initiative was created by the non-profit Restore Hope, which works to reduce incarceration rates and the need for foster care. A key component of the initiative is a collaborative approach supported by software that allows service providers who are helping families in crisis to effectively communicate with one another and serve an individual holistically.

In this session, Phillips will explain the urgency the county faced in 2017, steps taken to address the numerous broken links in a system of correction and care, and share program successes. Phillips aims to equip HR practitioners with the knowledge and tools to engage this segment of the population through employment that enables families to thrive.