Family Services
We offer scholarships, family services, family engagement, and parent education to reduce stress, help families through tough times, and break down the barriers associated with poverty.
We believe all children deserve to grow in safe, nurturing environments, regardless of their family’s income. Our goal is to make sure that children have access to the things they need to be happy and healthy. The first five years are crucial to the development of the child, so by helping families, we are investing in the future of the child.
How we help.
Scholarships
Our scholarships remove barriers to ensure children have access to affordable high-quality early childhood education.
Diaper Assistance
Families who sign up for diaper assistance will receive monthly diapers/pull-ups and wipes from the Family Network Diaper Collective.
Clothing Assistance
Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center provides year round clothing assistance and seasonal winter coats, hats, and gloves to our children in need.
Parent Education
We offer free parent education classes, designed to meet parents where they are, deepen an understanding of their children, and bring more peace and joy into their home.
Holiday Assistance
We provide Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance to our families in need, so every child feels that they belong and have positive self-esteem.
Family Engagement
Family engagement during the earliest years of a child’s life is one of the most powerful predictors of a child’s development. We have Christopher’s Lending Library, Libby’s Brain Bags, and host community programs.
Food Insecurity
We have an on-site food pantry, formula assistance, healthy groceries, and community refrigerator for our families.
Meet Our
Family Services Coordinator
Jennifer Harrison is the Family Services Coordinator at HWCEC. She connects parents to resources such as job placement, financial support, counseling, food assistance, household supplies, clothing, housing, and more to meet the individual needs of the family. We take the whole-family approach when addressing needs because the mental and physical health of the family unit, whatever that may look like, has a profound impact on the child’s development. Children between birth and 5 years old are in a critical, formative part of their lives. Nurturing the child and taking special care during this period sets them up for a lifetime of success. You may feel trapped in a cycle of poverty, but poverty does not define who you are or what you are capable of.
In 2002, Jennifer and her husband relocated to Northwest Arkansas where they raised their four children, two of whom were fortunate to attend HWCEC. She began a career in the staffing industry, helping individuals find meaningful employment. This led to an opportunity 18 years ago to assist HWCEC in recruiting passionate individuals for early childhood education.
Her passion for working with young children started early, leading her to earn a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in high school. She spent several years teaching in early childcare and later became ordained as a children's pastor, working as a youth ministries director in Kansas City, Missouri for seven years. During this time, she also volunteered with CASA, advocating for children who had suffered abuse or neglect.
Jennifer and her husband enjoy spending time with family and friends, their two Boston Terriers and three cats. She loves traveling the world one cruise at a time, playing games, having cookouts, and going on camping trips that include fishing and hiking.
Jennifer is here to help Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center families with whatever they need, judgment free. Should you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to her through email at jharrison@hwccenter.com
Community Resources
HWCEC is here to help you with whatever you need, judgement free. You may feel trapped, but this does not define who you are or what you are capable of.
Jennifer Harrison, our Family Services Coordinator, is here to serve as a liaison to help you and your family get the resources you need to be happy, healthy, and successful. If you aren’t comfortable reaching out to her, you can use the resources below. Please know this is not a comprehensive list of the resources available in our community. If you need additional resources, please reach out to Jennifer Harrison.
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Hark is a nonprofit based in and focused on NWA. Their community liaisons reach out to those who fill out a contact form, and they take time to hear what their specific needs are. Based on those needs, they give recommendations of what organizations to get in contact with to help with those needs. These community liaisons are constantly updating their database of community resources to ensure they give people the most accurate information about local resources.
Arkansas Children’s Resource Connect
Search and connect to support. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help starts here.
Child Care Assistance Program (Vouchers)
Child care vouchers are offered through the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Eligibility for vouchers is income based, and income requirements are provided on their website. These vouchers help offset the cost of childcare and are paid to the licensed or registered childcare provider.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these issues, there are many resources able to help provide services and somewhere to stay for adults and children.
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
This number is 24/7 and is offered in English and Spanish and has multilingual translation for other languages. Or text START to 88788.
Shelter housing for women who have experience domestic or sexual abuse and their children.
Shelter housing and resources for single mothers in crisis and their children.
Long-term housing and resources for women and their children who have experienced homelessness, violence, abuse, and other trauma.
Shelter housing, legal help, and resources for adults and their children who have experienced domestic violence.
Transitional housing and resources for women in recovery and their children.
Free services and counseling for adults who have been affected by rape or sexual assault.
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Food assistance for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children under 5 who meet income requirements.
Food assistance for families or individuals who meet income requirements, formerly known as food stamps.
NWA Food Bank and Food Pantries
Provides food to local food pantries, also runs a mobile pantry to distribute directly to the community.
Connects families in need of formula with donors.
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New Beginnings Bridge Housing Community
Low barrier community for people in need of shelter.
Salvation Army’s Fayetteville Housing-Focused Shelter
Temporary housing for men, women, and families.
Shelter housing for women who have experience domestic or sexual abuse and their children.
Shelter housing and resources for single mothers in crisis and their children.
Long-term housing and resources for women and their children who have experienced homelessness, violence, abuse, and other trauma.
Shelter housing, legal help, and resources for adults and theOasis of Northwest Arkansasir children who have experienced domestic violence.
Transitional housing and resources for women in recovery and their children.
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Provides assistance with mortgage or rent payments.
Cooperative Emergency Outreach
A cooperative of churches that can provide rental assistance, utility assistance, gas vouchers, clothing vouchers, prescription vouchers, and food to those in a financial emergency.
The Arkansas Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)
A federally funded program helping Arkansas residents who are behind on their mortgages, electricity, gas and/or internet payments.
The federal government offers housing vouchers for low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled.
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Provides utility assistance. Samaritan Community Center also offers help with food, clothing, and dental care.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Assists eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization, and energy-related home repairs.
St. Stephen Benevolent Conference (SSBC)
SSBC of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides assistance with rent, utility bills, and food to residents of Bentonville, Bella Vista, Centerton, Cave Springs, Decatur, and Gravette.
Assistance with late utility bills, eviction notices, gasoline, and food pantry.
Provides assistance with utility payments.
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A local thrift store.
NWA Women’s Shelter Thrift Store
A local thrift store that benefits the NWA Women’s Shelter.
Helps women with interview preparation and clothing for interviews or work.
Market clients are given a 2-3 day supply of food and clothing vouchers for children at the Samaritan Shop.
A local thrift store part of the Samaritan Community Center which has several programs for those in need.
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Hygiene kits for those in Benton and Washington counties.
Hygiene kits are shipped anonymously to girls or women fleeing abuse.
Care packages for families with premature babies in the NICU or being discharged.
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The only full-service charitable dental clinic in Northwest Arkansas.
Offers primary care, dental, therapy, and more. Accepts insurance and also has sliding scale financial assistance.
Free or discounted health insurance for children in Arkansas. Depends on income eligibility. Free for ARKids A and a copay for ARKids B.
Income-based health coverage offered through the federal and state government that covers health care and dental services.
Low to no cost therapy services for teens.
Sliding scale counseling services.
Life Strategies Counseling, Inc
Sliding scale counseling services.
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Arkansas Division of Workforce Services
Provides career counseling and job search help.
Career center coaches help women with their job search, with cover letter and resumes, and preparing for interviews.
Provides career counseling and job search help.
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Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
Single mothers or fathers can get tuition assistance.
Income-based scholarships for parents attending higher education. Services include help with tuition, books, fees, childcare, transportation, mentoring, and more. Partners with NWACC.
Provides tuition for adults looking to get a career in healthcare.
Federal tuition grant money for those who qualify based on income.
Northwest Arkansas Community College
NWACC provides quality and affordable higher education for a full range of certificates and associate degrees that can lead to careers in business, computer science, art, communications, culinary, nursing, engineering, construction, criminal justice and more.
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A resource center for families that provides child care referrals, parenting classes, child care provider education, training and professional development opportunities.
A resource for parents looking for information about child care in Arkansas or for details about what quality care looks like.
Arkansas Division of Child Care & Early Childhood Education
Ensures that Arkansas children and families have access to a safe, high-quality, developmentally appropriate early-learning environment. The Division accomplishes this by educating and assisting parents; licensing, regulating, and supporting child care providers, and working with communities to prepare children for future success.
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
CPSC is an independent federal regulatory agency formed in 1972 with a mission to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury or death from consumer products through education, safety standards activities, regulation, and enforcement. CPSC is a small agency with a large mission, and works to ensure the safety of consumers every day. For current recall information, visit CPSC.gov.
