Monticello Live

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and The CALL in Southeast Arkansas hopes to bring necessary attention to the 56 children in their service area* currently in foster care through their Power of Local campaign.

The number of traditional foster homes available to accept local placements in Southeast Arkansas is critically low. In fact, 100% of Southeast Arkansas children in foster care are sadly placed outside of their home county because a local foster home was not available.

When children enter foster care, they are experiencing a difficult transition. Staying local (near friends, schools, familiar surroundings) helps provide stability during a time of uncertainty. Local placements help maintain a child’s sense of belonging, connection, and stability. To make this happen for Southeast Arkansas, it will take local families, local churches, and the local communities stepping up to ensure children can stay close to familiar places and people.

Non-local placements can make an already difficult transition even more challenging. Challenges created by long-distance placements include:

· Longer travel for weekly family visits, court hearings and caseworker meetings, often indirectly impacting school attendance due to travel time involved

· School change and loss of teachers, coaches, school connections

· Losing connections with church, mentors, therapists and local support system

· Loss of comforting faces and places in addition to the adjustments of life in a new community

The impact of children being displaced from their community can be far-reaching. Effects include a disruption to their education, distance from family, loss of local support and increased instability, creating additional stress during a time of crisis.

Instead, local placements provide:

· More convenience and less school absences for weekly family visits

· Possibility of other family connections (when appropriate) throughout the week

· Consistent relationships with teachers, counselors, and mentors

· Less disruption and more stability

· Stronger support system for both the child and their family

· Family reunification is more likely, which is the goal whenever possible for children in foster care

Foster care is not only about providing a home. It is about keeping a child rooted in the place they know and love. Ways the community can help include:

· Become a foster parent: Open your home to a child in need and help keep them close to their familiar surroundings

· Support local foster families: Offer your time, resources, or skills to families who are already fostering.

· Advocate for local foster care: Spread the word about the importance of keeping kids local and encourage others to get involved.

· Partner with your church: Help create a network of support for foster families in your area.

The CALL in Southeast Arkansas is here to help you explore how you can impact the children and families in your community. The CALL provides support for every step of the foster home licensing process as well as on-going support for open foster and adoptive homes as well as closed adoptive homes. Prospective foster families, volunteers, church partners, and community partners can contact their office at (870)308-9502 or email sea@thecallinarkansas.org.

Ways to Engage in Power of Local in Southeast Arkansas during May:

The CALL is collaborating with their partners at the Division of Children and Family Services as well as CASA of the 10th Judicial District to recognize these 56 children on May 12, 2025 with a balloon display and release on the Monticello town square at 10am. A special time

of prayer will take place over the children and families represented, as well. The community is invited to come and participate.

Churches and businesses in all six counties are hosting Power of Local displays during the month of May. Literature and information is available to the public at each of these displays. Limited displays and slots remain available and can be booked by contacting The CALL at (870)308-9502 or emailing sea@thecallinarkansas.org.

*Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, Drew, Lincoln counties

Mainline Health Systems, Inc. is thrilled to announce that it has received grant funding from the Blue & You Foundation to support the purchase of sleep sacks for infants, promoting a safe sleep environment and reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The Blue & You Foundation, established by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, provides funding for health improvement initiatives in Arkansas. This grant award acknowledges MHSI’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of infants in our community.

“We are deeply grateful to the Blue & You Foundation for their support of our mission,” said Allan Nichols, CEO at Mainline Health Systems, Inc. “This funding will enable us to provide essential sleep sacks and education to families in need, promoting a safe and healthy sleep environment for their infants.”

Sleep sacks are a crucial component of a safe sleep environment, as they help prevent SIDS by keeping infants on their backs and preventing overheating. With this grant funding, MHSI will be able to provide sleep sacks to families who may not have access to this essential resource.

About Mainline Health Systems, Inc.

Since 1978, Mainline Health Systems has served the residents of Southeast Arkansas with a compassionate approach and a commitment to the highest standard of medical, dental, and behavioral health care. From its first office in Portland all those years ago, Mainline Health Systems has grown to 27 locations across Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Drew, Grant, Lincoln, and Pulaski counties. To learn more about Mainline Health Systems Inc., visit their website at www.mainlinehealth.net.

The Desha/Drew County Cattleman’s Association met at 6:30 pm at the UAM Agriculture Building on January 16,2025. The delicious Meatloaf supper was sponsored by Joplin Regional Stockyards. Joplin Regional Stockyards also provided the speakers for the night. Joe Western and Matt ran a question and answer session for producers. They gave advice on preconditioning, listed Joplin Regionals advantages over its competitors, and filled members in on markets. Producers also got to become familiar with the system of receiving stations Joplin Regional has across the state. The speakers finished with positive reports for the future. The main business of the meeting was the decision to donate funds to go towards the UAM Ag Alumni Society scholarship. President Cater Adjourned the meeting.

Attention Market In The Park Vendors, the application is now available to be filled out online.

Click Here To Fill Out Application

MHSI’s two new maternal health research
coordinators, Cyndy Woods and Pam Leeper, traveled to Little Rock this week for training
at the Community Health Centers of Arkansas headquarters. The University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences (UAMS) is partnering with the Community Health Centers of Arkansas
(CHCA) for a maternal health research program, Delivering HOPE (Helping Women
Optimize Prenatal Equity).

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Leaping Lizards! Southeast Arkansas will “stick up its chin and grin and sing ‘Tomorrow!  Tomorrow!’” when SEARK Concert Association performs Annie JR.  Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning best musical by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, Annie JR. tells the story of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents. (more…)