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A Benton County-based child and family services organization is getting closer and closer to opening their second campus in south Sebastian County in July, with an eye on providing long term, family housing to children who have been left homeless through no fault of their own
New Beginning’s Children Home, which is set to open in July, places special emphasis on the word “family” as they look to keep displaced siblings together in a safe environment n troubled times.
“Helping to Rewrite a Child’s Future” is their motto. And, it doesn’t take long for you to understand that this isn’t just a motto, it’s their lifestyle.
You can readily see the work they do, and it’s quite amazing. NBCH has set the standard for quality, family style care for children in foster care.
The mission and vision of NBCH is to provide long term family style housing to children who have been left homeless due to no fault of their own.
NBCH set a precedent in Arkansas being the first in the state to give priority placement to sibling groups as a means to unify those that have been separated.
Often times, these children have been separated due to lack of available placements as they navigated through the foster care system.
The Huntington-Mansfield campus of the organization will soon join the Bentonville facility in providing these much needed services and the executive director is thrilled to have found a new home for the mission.
“We couldn’t have been any happier to have found a place in Mansfield,” said New Beginning’s executive director, Anthony Christopher. “The people of this community have shown their love, and we’re excited to be a part of this area.”
As each day passes, the staff is working working towards their July opening goal.
“We’ll be building additional homes on the property that will house foster care children, as well as our New Beginning Learning Academy, providing Early Head Start services to children living on-site and those within the community, aged six weeks through Preschool,” said Christopher.
In addition to the on-site family-style housing, NBCH will expand its services to include licensing of individual foster homes in the community.
In addition, NBCP will be able to provide the case management services for the children housed within these private homes.
Individuals who wish to foster children may now do so privately through the New Beginning Child Placement (NBCP) program. NBCP will provide everything potential foster parents need from trainings, licensing, placement, and on-going support.
“Sebastian County is the largest population of foster care children in the state. This is an opportunity to bring children back to their community, and give them the chance to experience what a loving, safe, and supportive family looks like.” said Christopher. “Because of this, priority of placement for these private foster homes will be given to those living in Mansfield, and residents of Sebastian County.”
One major aspect to the overall success of both programs is the support of the community.
“We are in need of churches, businesses and individuals willing to play an active role in helping to identity individuals and families interested in becoming foster parents. We cannot do this without the support of the community,” said Christopher.
NBCH will be hosting a Town Hall meeting on Friday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m. This will be held at the Mansfield High School Cafeteria.
All of those with an interest in getting involved or learning more about the organization are invited to attend.
If you would like more information on how to become a foster parent, or if your Church is interested in partnering with NBCH, please contact Anthony Christopher at [email protected] or Wanda Eash at [email protected]
You can also visit the website at newbeginningsar.com.
