Florence Crittenton Services Inc.

Center Aids Adolescent Women

Since 1903, Florence Crittenton Services Inc. in Little Rock has provided therapy, education and other assistance to adolescent women suffering from abuse, neglect or behavior problems, and to the families of those women.

The facility offers prenatal care, and staff workers teach parenting skills. Florence Crittenton also offers an independent living program for women ages 18-25 who would otherwise be homeless, and the Mother/Infant Program for women younger than 18 who need a place to live until they can find a more permanent home.

Service workers participate in the Annual Neighborhood Clean-Up, and the women at the service crochet red caps for babies born at UAMS during the holiday season.

Sandra G. Broughton, the executive director, says the service uses newsletters and public speaking engagements for promotion, and it schedules one of its highest-profile events near Mother’s Day.

“We have our major fund-raiser coming up on May 7, around Mother’s Day, called our Woman of Distinction dinner,” Broughton says. “Every year we honor a woman from Arkansas, and this year, we’re honoring U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln. Last year we honored Margaret Clark, and the year before that, we honored first lady Janet Huckabee.”

The long-range goals at Crittenton include building a new facility, updating the information system and improving staff training.

But Broughton says the basic goals of the center remain the same.

“Our vision is to enable young women and female teen-agers of Arkansas to make responsible choices, become self-sufficient adults and positive role models in their community,” she says.