FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — Thirteen schools in six Arkansas counties will receive assistance from local law enforcement as part of an initiative announced by U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Conner Eldridge Wednesday (August 5) at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville.
The goal of the A-Chance Program, which stands for Arkansas Cultivating Healthy Attitudes and Nurturing Children to Excel, is to ensure that when a child experiences a violent, criminal or traumatic event police will notify his or her school by the next morning by filling out a form. The form will go the district then to the appropriate school principal and the child’s teacher and counselor.
When a school receives a notice from police a teacher could take some measures like providing special attention, re-teaching important lessons, postponing testing and permitting the child time to rest.
The program does not require any funding, only the commitment of local law enforcement agencies and school administration.
A-Chance is part of a larger initiative of the Department of Justice.
Eldridge said the program will be implemented in Washington, Sebastian, Crawford, Union, Clark and Ouachita Counties.
Crawford County:
Crawford County Sheriff’s Office
Alma Police Department
Alma Public Schools
Van Buren Police Department
Van Buren Public Schools
Sebastian County:
Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office
Fort Smith Police Department
Fort Smith Public Schools
Washington County:
Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Farmington Police Department
Fayetteville Police Department
Greenland Police Department
Springdale Police Department
Springdale Public Schools
