SafeCare Arkansas Area 8

02/26/2026

Has your child ever asked to play at the end of a long and exhausting day? Or maybe they’re an early riser (but you’re not)? We’ve been there!
These are some great suggestions for ways to get some important playtime in with your child without needing a lot of energy.

It is completely understandable to feel drained, and for families participating in SafeCare Arkansas, finding ways to manage stress and fatigue while still meeting your parenting goals is a huge part of the process.
SafeCare focuses heavily on children ages 0-5, emphasizing Parent-Child Interaction (PCI), Home Safety, and Health. We can easily adapt low-energy activities to hit these exact goals, allowing you to rest while still practicing the skills you are learning in the program.

Here are low-energy activities tailored for SafeCare AR families:

01/27/2026

Home Safety: The "Knee-Level" Perspective

Did you know that most unintentional injuries happen right in the home? 🏠

On these cold days when we’re spending more time inside, it’s the perfect time for a "Safety Sweep." At SafeCare AR, we teach caregivers how to spot common household hazards before they become accidents.

SafeCare Tip: The "Toddler View" Get down on your hands and knees! When you look at your living room from your child's height, you might see things you missed from above—like a loose outlet cover, a dangling heater cord, or a small object under the couch.

Removing just 3 small hazards today makes your home a much safer place for play!

01/22/2026

🛠️ How Change Happens: The Power of EMPF in SafeCare AR
At SafeCare AR, we don’t just tell caregivers what to do—we show them how to do it. The secret to our success is a proven four-step method called EMPF.
Whether we are working on home safety, child health, or parent-child interactions, we follow this roadmap to ensure every family feels confident and capable:
🌟 The EMPF Journey:
Explain: We define the skill and talk about why it matters. Understanding the "why" is the first step to success!
Model: Our providers physically demonstrate the skill. We show exactly what it looks like in action so there’s no guesswork.
Practice: It’s the caregiver’s turn! Families get to try the skill in a safe, supportive environment until it feels natural.
Feedback: We celebrate what went well and offer gentle, corrective coaching. This ensures caregivers leave the session feeling like pros.
By using EMPF, we aren't just giving advice—we are building lifelong skills that keep Arkansas children safe, healthy, and thriving. ❤️
Helping cargivers lead with confidence, one step at a time.

01/22/2026

12/10/2025

‼️‼️‼️‼️

⚠️ LIHEAP FUNDING UPDATE – IMPORTANT NOTICE

Crowley’s Ridge Development Council, Inc., started the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program with very limited funding this year.

Until additional funding arrives, CRDC can only assist the following households:
✅ Households with someone 60 or older
✅ Households with a disability
✅ Households with a child age 5 or under

📅 Application Days by County:
Mondays: Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Woodruff
Tuesdays: Greene, Jackson, Poinsett, St. Francis

⏰ Hours: 8:30–11:30 AM & 1:00–3:00 PM
Please contact your local CRDC office with questions or to confirm required documentation.

12/08/2025

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas will be in Lawrence County to set up a USDA Food Distribution. We will be in Walnut Ridge. If you are interested in this program and live in the county, please stop by December 10th at 9am-11am, OR until the food runs out.

If you are interested in getting text notifications from the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas regarding commodity distribution, sign up here:
https://manager.vivery.org/SMSSignup/19270

A USDA Food Distribution site is a one-day food pantry where families and individuals are given this food free of charge, and eligibility is based on the number of people in the household and the household’s combined monthly income. Households may only receive USDA foods once per month. To verify income eligibility contact the Food Bank at 870-932-3663.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

12/08/2025

⚠️ LIHEAP FUNDING UPDATE – IMPORTANT NOTICE

Crowley’s Ridge Development Council, Inc., started the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program with very limited funding this year.

Until additional funding arrives, CRDC can only assist the following households:
✅ Households with someone 60 or older
✅ Households with a disability
✅ Households with a child age 5 or under

📅 Application Days by County:
Mondays: Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Woodruff
Tuesdays: Greene, Jackson, Poinsett, St. Francis

⏰ Hours: 8:30–11:30 AM & 1:00–3:00 PM
Please contact your local CRDC office with questions or to confirm required documentation.

11/05/2025

🌟 Need a little extra help right now?
Visit www.findhelp.org — a free, easy-to-use resource that connects you with local food pantries, financial assistance, housing support, healthcare, and more.

💻 Just enter your ZIP code to find trusted programs and organizations in your community.
Because everyone deserves access to the help they need. 💙