Fort Smith, AR— February 22, 2021 — 100 Families is an initiative of the United Way of Fort Smith Area, in collaboration with Restore Hope Arkansas. This initiative helps families move from crisis to career, using existing community resources, by engaging community partners, training agencies on a collaborative case management system, and recruiting case managers to respond when a family is in crisis.
“The role and involvement of the United Way of Fort Smith Area has grown with Restore Hope as the 100 Families Initiative program has grown. We were honored to be able to become the official home for 100 Families and work to obtain a grant in May of 2020 for $1.67M through the Arkansas Department of Work Force Services (ADWS). The partnership between Restore Hope, ADWS, and numerous other community partners, has helped countless individuals and families in our community to move from crisis to care and care to career. The collective impact has been truly remarkable changing lives one family at a time.” said Eddie Lee Herndon, President and CEO, United Way of Fort Smith Area.
The 100 Families Initiative launched in Sebastian County in February 2019 through the efforts of Restore Hope with the goal of bringing the community together in response to the needs of families in crisis. Two years later, the results of these efforts are evident in the many families that have achieved lasting success through this community collaboration.
This virtual event will be a celebration of the hard work and dedication of the members of the 100 Families Alliance and the families themselves who have worked to turn their lives around. In addition, Eddie Lee Herndon will be sharing exciting information about what is ahead.
“I’m honored to have been a part of 100 Families since the launch and to see firsthand the impact that it’s had. This work can be difficult, and we don’t often pause to celebrate the successes. I’m thrilled to be able to celebrate with such an incredible group of people, and I’m excited to see what the future of 100 Families will bring”, said Heather Edwards, 100 Families Sebastian County Coordinator.
Participants at the event will be:
-Paul Chapman, Executive Director, Restore Hope
-Dr. Ken Warden, Dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology, UAFS
-Chief Danny Baker, Fort Smith Police Department
-Sheriff Hobe Runion, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department
-Pat Morris, Coordinator of Community Outreach and Fund Development, Mercy Hospital
-Christina Rouse, Director of Community Health, Mercy
-Eddie Lee Herndon, President and CEO, United Way of Fort Smith Area
-Trudy Smith, Case Manager, STEPS Family Resource Center
-100 Families Clients
