Little Rock nonprofit expands services to support local families
(LITTLE ROCK, Ark., October XX, 2018) – According to the Arkansas Department of Human Services, there were 5,113 children in foster care at the end of 2017. These numbers show a three-percent increase from 2016, when the number of children in foster care was 4,957. In the midst of our nation’s ongoing foster care crisis, one local nonprofit organization is working diligently to provide critical support to this vulnerable population.
Bethany Christian Services , a global nonprofit committed to bringing and keeping families together, is an advocate for families and offers a variety of services to those in crisis. This includes its expanding Safe Families program, a national movement of compassion that gives hope to families during desperate times. This network of volunteer host families helps parents who need temporary care for their children as they work through unmanageable or critical circumstances.
The Little Rock branch is furthering expansion efforts with the hiring of new branch director, LaTanya Bennett, who is transitioning to this role after leading the Safe Families program at Bethany for the past year. Bennett is dedicated to supporting local families in any way possible, so they can remain intact. In addition to offering the Safe Families program, the Little Rock office also offers pregnancy counseling, international and domestic adoption, and other post-adoption services.
“During my experience as a foster parent, I noticed gaps in services for families,” said Bennett. “There were many processes to go through, and I believed there was a better way to reunite families. Once we started Safe Families in Little Rock, we started getting to the root of why families are struggling, which allowed us to begin supporting them appropriately in their time of need.”
Bennett has over 15 years of management experience, with a strong background in volunteer services that includes program development, outreach services and youth mentoring. Along with her work at Bethany, she is a Risking Connections trauma care trainer and mentor for a youth home in Little Rock. Amidst her busy schedule, she finds time to serve as a foster parent and is passionate about creating a pathway to a healthy, productive life for all children.
Bennett earned a master’s degree in public administration from Arkansas State University and her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In this new role, Bennett hopes to be actively involved with churches and community organizations to inform citizens of the work they can do to support their neighboring families.
For more information on Bethany Christian Services, visit www.bethany.org/little-rock.
About Bethany Christian Services Bethany Christian Services was founded in 1944 and has grown to 136 locations in 36 states. The agency serves over 100,000 children annually. Bethany’s mission is to find a loving, permanent home for every child, working to reunite children with their biological families or place children in permanent adoptive homes. For more information, call 1-800-BETHANY or visit bethany.org.
