The Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries network of emergency receiving homes provide immediate sanctuary for children in need of emergency care. Many of the children in the agency's emergency shelters have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. Sometimes a child's parents have been incarcerated, or perhaps hospitalized for medical or psychological problems. At other times, families find themselves in severe conflict and a time of separation is needed. The agency's five emergency shelters provide care for approximately 350 children each year.
Children can arrive at the shelters anytime day or night.
Many are placed with only the clothes they are wearing or bring with them a garbage bag of hurriedly packed personal items. The children can stay up to ninety days while the courts, the Department of Human Services, other agencies, and our staff work to make good long term plans for them. Many children are placed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Referrals also come from pastors, youth ministers, family members, mental health workers, school counselors, and a host of other sources. To refer a child to one of our emergency shelters, contact the area office nearest you.