The Fort Smith Children's Emergency Shelter was working on one-third of its normal budget because of cancelled fundraisers in 2020. But the organization rose to the challenge and successfully implemented a new model of care for youth in foster care and expanded its young adult program.
Its GetREAL24 program helps youth aging out of foster care — a need that continues regardless of pandemics. It provided long-term housing solutions, therapeutic resources, relationships and supportive life-skills services to the youth in foster care who call the Children's Shelter and GetREAL24 their safe home.
