Baxter County Alternative School (BCAS) is officially BEST in the state. At the Fourth Annual Statewide Conference on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention held at the beginning of October in Little Rock, the local alternative school was named the state's Best Juvenile Justice Program by the Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile Justice.

"We are here to provide opportunity for change," said Canda Reese, BCAS principal, "and I think we do that very well. This award and statewide recognition have verified what we already knew - that we have the best program in the state."

The Alternative School is a division of Baxter County Juvenile Services and is held each weekday in an unassuming metal building located on Bomber Boulevard. BCAS opened in the Spring of 1996 with a three-fold mission: (1) To provide students suspended or expelled from other schools with a safe and secure learning environment; (2) To provide greater parental involvement and accountability; and (3) to provide management of conflicts within academic and social settings. Honorable Gary Isbell, Juvenile Judge, and Cheryl Green, Director of Juvenile Services, initiated the program based on the needs of the public schools, the community, and the juvenile justice system.

Green commented that "every community is ahead of the game when education is a priority. There are many individuals and agencies/businesses that have supported our efforts, which lends to our success." There are five teachers, a licensed counselor, a caseworker, and two support staff working in the school every day. The school can work with a maximum of 70 students. There are 42 students currently enrolled in the school.

The TIME Mentoring Program, facilitated through Arkansas' Promise, was initiated in the Baxter County Alternative School, but has expanded in order to provide support and encouragement for all youth in relationships between caring adults and teens. This relationship will give both the adult and teen a sense of pride and fulfillment.

The Family Resource Center coordinates public forums, workshops and parenting education classes to help strengthen the family units in the county. The Baxter County Family Resource Center sponsors Teen Substance Abuse Meetings and the Peer Mediation Program established within the three (3) county school districts. Services are offered to all age groups in Baxter County.

The Host Home Program provides emergency housing for youth in our county and surrounding areas. The youth stay in a host home for either a few hours or up to fourteen days. Host Home are families who volunteer their home, time, and love to area youth.