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 two locations the High School Campus at 1310 Bradley Drive and the Middle School Campus is 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.

Director Cheryl 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 eighteen  teachers, a licensed counselor, a caseworker, and three support staff working in the school every day. The school can work with a maximum of 300 students. There are 110 students currently enrolled in the school.

The TIME Mentoring Program, is made possible through a grant from Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Services.  The Program serves students enrolled at Baxter County Alternative School and clients of the juvenile justice system in Baxter County. The purpose of the program is to establish an ongoing, caring relationship between a volunteer adult and a student in need of additional support.

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 (s) 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 as little as a few hours or up to 30 days.  Host Home Families volunteer to open their home, give their time and love to youth as a respite during times of crisis.