About Us

The Community Programs Department was established in 1996 with a mission to address crime prevention issues and to provide a greater array of social and human services needed and desired by citizens. This milestone achievement was the culmination of efforts that started in 1988 with a $10 million grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to establish and underwrite the organization, New Futures for Little Rock Youth, which began to create the environment necessary for serious consideration of youth issues. That was followed in 1991 with a Fighting Back Grant of $5 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This grant allowed the City of Little Rock to establish a base of substance abuse services and programs.

Community Programs Staff