By Antoinette Grajeda - May 21, 2025 Published in Arkansas Advocate
The University of Arkansas has received $10 million from the Department of Human Services to develop a centralized Crisis Hub and Crisis Continuum for the state.
School of Social Work Director Johanna Thomas will lead a team of UA experts who will create the hub, which will serve Arkansans with behavioral health needs.
“Currently, Arkansas does not have a coordinated statewide system of crisis care to address behavioral health needs for children and adults to this extent,” Thomas said. “What we’re creating together begins with prevention and early intervention, and then focuses on crisis intervention and guidance to follow up with treatment available for those who need it.”
Thomas and her team will Awith DHS to coordinate the program and determine subgrants. They’ll also implement DHS’ strategic plan for statewide prevention, early intervention and crisis services, with an emphasis on infant mental health, school-based behavioral health and mental health, and substance abuse treatment for adults, with a focus on pregnant and postpartum women, according to the release.
The UA team will also design a “unified crisis hub model” for the state in collaboration with DHS, schools, community stakeholders and partner agencies.
“Mental health and addiction are statewide issues — so our response has to be statewide too,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. “Through programs like the new crisis hub, we can address both adults’ and children’s needs early and often. These challenges aren’t unique to Arkansas, but we do have a unique opportunity to address them collaboratively to prevent and treat all Arkansans.”
Seven areas of the state will serve as pilot sites for the crisis care continuum, which officials expect will allow for unique specializations within each region, the release states.
“This work will address gaps in our system and ensure that services are available both to prevent situations from escalating to crisis level and to support Arkansans in need in times of crisis,” said Paula Stone, director of the DHS Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.