United States – December 20, 2022 – Family Integrity & Justice Works at Public Knowledge®, in partnership with the local philanthropic organization, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and the Arkansas Department of Human Services, is facilitating the development of a community-based support network in Pulaski County designed to strengthen and preserve families. By increasing awareness and accessibility of community supports for families and providing such information regarding direct services to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline, unnecessary child welfare investigations or involvements will decrease, in addition to removals and the associated trauma for children and their families. Community groups will partner and leverage resources to directly engage with families and effectively address their needs in a way that is conducive to a family’s culture and background.

Last year, Public Knowledge®, an multinational management consulting firm with child welfare expertise, began their work with Pulaski County to address problems relating to staff turnover and increased numbers of youth in foster care occurring during the pandemic. Additionally, the partnership seeks to strengthen early intervention services to connect families to needed resources and supports.

“The work being done to support families in Pulaski County is incredible. By focusing on community-based, preventive services, we can help create a system where families feel supported, safe, and understood.”

Elizabeth Black, Public Knowledge® Regional Vice President

Up to three Pulaski County-based community groups, funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, will do the following:

• Identify and provide immediate services and supports within the community that would address the needs of the family to better support and preserves them.
• Develop, enhance, or partner with other groups to make services more accessible.
• Develop and initiate outreach to families to make them aware of the supports available.
• Increase advocacy efforts surrounding community-based prevention efforts.

About Public Knowledge®

Public Knowledge® is an international management consulting firm focused on Programs, People, Learning, and Systems. We exist to help our clients solve tough problems and thrive in complex environments. For more than 30 years, we have helped our clients achieve their goals by understanding their needs and objectives as a foundation to our problem-solving process. Our goal is to provide our clients with unparalleled service and act as their catalyst for change. Learn more by visiting pubknow.com. Family Integrity & Justice Works at Public Knowledge® focuses on replacing the child welfare system. Coming together to promote justice, we see a bright future where families have the support they need without bias, judgment, or fear of separation. We are proposing a radical change in a way that has never been done before and are currently working to prove this new way works with our demonstration sites. Learn more by visiting fijw.pubknow.com.