100 Families Initiative to foster collaboration between orgs in El Dorado Co., AR

A new initiative in Union County is set to help families in crisis find the resources they need with less hassle while also fostering collaboration between local agencies and organizations.

The 100 Families Initiative, a program within the nonprofit Restore Hope, is starting in Union County with help from the Hannah Pregnancy Resource Center. Representatives from both organizations met at the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

100 Families county coordinator Jackie Stratton and HPRC executive director Paula Williams provided information on the initiative and how it works to connect families and resources. "100 Families is a community initiative to collaborate with our existing resources to help families in crisis move from crisis to stability to career," Stratton said. Organizations that participate in 100 Families will be added to a software database called HopeHub that will allow agencies to much more easily collaborate on cases. The software is provided free to participants through Restore Hope.

A member of one agency can evaluate a client's needs and add the appropriate participating agency to the client's case through the software. The new agency will then be notified that they have been added to the case and can review the case file and come on board to help.

"So, instead of just handing them a piece of paper and saying go over there to the food pantry, in this collaboration we will all be using a client management system. The [agency] who makes contact with the people first will be able to add those other community organizations to their case. Instead of just telling the person to go make contact, we will make contact with that resource," Stratton explained.

The initiative will depend on collaboration and participation from organizations of all stripes in Union County, from those providing housing, transportation, mental health treatment, and food to any agencies that might involve families or people in crisis such as District Courts.