02/10/2026
Our Residents Are Our “Why”
This resident came to WAYS on 12/11/25 and stayed with us for approximately 60 days. Prior to arriving, she had been placed at a shelter in Cecil, Arkansas, where her behavior had not been positive.
When she transferred to the WAYS shelter in Mulberry, Arkansas, staff were prepared for significant challenges due to a history of violent behaviors toward others. However, she quickly surprised everyone.
After taking time to adjust, the resident began to thrive. She became respectful toward staff, attended school most days with minimal redirection, and worked closely with staff to develop coping skills to manage her emotions and behaviors. These skills helped her reduce outburst and disrespectful reactions.
She participated in outings and learned how to navigate peer relationship not always perfectly, but with growing self-awareness. When overwhelmed, she learned to take a self-timeout and communicate her needs to staff, which proved effective for everyone involved. Over time, she began taking accountability for her actions, often correcting her behavior and offering apologies after outburst, something she had not done previously.
On 2/9/26, after spending the past three years in DHS custody, the resident was successfully discharged to her biological father. Her growth, resilience, and determination remind us why we do this work every day
