Three events in two days lay the groundwork for Her Communities in The Natural State
Two weeks ago, pro-lifers converged in Little Rock for two full days of opportunities to strengthen the pro-life safety net in Arkansas.
On Thursday, nearly 25 providers were trained on how to use Her PLAN’s Directory of life-affirming medical, social and material support resources. Attendees included local pregnancy centers, church ministries, children’s services and larger statewide entities involved with the pro-life movement who will benefit from having access to these resources as they meet the specific needs of their clients.
Attendees responded positively to the training and especially valued the directory’s needs assessment feature, which enables a provider to input information about their client’s unique situation and receive a generated priority list of resources to help support her and her family. Providers were also grateful for this opportunity to connect with other like-minded providers, opening the door to future collaborative opportunities to serve local moms and families.
A local provider explores the features of Her PLAN’s directory app, a resource that allows them to connect their clients with a variety of resources to meet their urgent needs.
This training comes at a pivotal moment in Arkansas. In late 2025, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders launched the 10:33 Initiative pilot program, which is designed to improve the situations of Arkansans in need by connecting them with nonprofits and churches who can meet their needs in addition to government assistance. This initiative complements Her PLAN’s mission of strengthening the pro-life safety net in Her Communities across the country.
“We’re in a really sweet spot here in Arkansas,” said Arkansas State Coordinator Lindsey Moon. “These organizations are hearing about the Governor’s initiative and wondering how to get involved, and then Her PLAN comes in and we’re already doing this work to connect and strengthen resources for moms and babies across the state.”
This momentum from earlier in the day carried into the evening with the kickoff of Her Community Saline County – the first Her Community in Arkansas.
Her Communities are coalitions of public officials, churches, charities, businesses and individuals that assess the adequacy of their local pro-life safety net and identify opportunities to expand or launch resources that address unmet needs. This work leads to establishing new resources or growth of under-resourced, high-demand programs in the community. Over the last year, Her PLAN has been developing and implementing this model with great success in local communities in eleven states.
Mayors, police department representatives, pastors and nonprofit leaders gathered for a discussion over dinner about the needs moms and babies in their community have, why the problems persist, and how their organizations can be a part of the solution. Mobilizing local resources and congregations now will bolster future work being planned in the Her Community, such as car maintenance days and community breakfasts, to fill gaps in care for both mom and baby.
The following day, on the heels of the Her Community kickoff, Her PLAN held a legislative briefing during the Arkansas Legislative Council at the State Capitol. Hosted in collaboration with the Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester, legislators and Capitol staff were trained on the directory and learned about the work being built upon in their communities. Representatives from the Attorney General’s office and the director of the Faith-Based Initiatives office, which oversees the 10:33 Initiative, were also in attendance.
Autumn Christensen, Executive Director, and Jennifer Gross, Director of Digital Innovation and Directory Engagement, speak to legislators about Her PLAN’s directory of resources during the legislative briefing at the Arkansas State Capitol.
For the past six years, Arkansas has consistently been one of the most pro-life states. To continue this pro-life legacy, it’s vitally important that lawmakers share resources like Her PLAN with their districts so that abortion-vulnerable moms can find the specific support they need to choose life and thrive with their children.
One of these lawmakers, Representative Mary Bentley who represents District 54 including portions of Yell, Pope, Perry, Saline, and Conway counties, said of the event, “Her PLAN will benefit all the women in Arkansas, especially those who are pregnant or young moms, and allow my constituents to easily locate all the resources available to them,” said Bentley. “I’m very excited about this new resource and how it will help the women in our state to get the help they need!”
With Her Community Saline County officially kicked off and key partners, local leaders and lawmakers trained on Her PLAN’s resources, transformative work can begin to strengthen the pro-life safety net in Arkansas. Together, pro-life Arkansans are equipped to keep their legacy as the most pro-life state strong for years to come.
Are you local to Arkansas? Become a part of the pro-life safety net. View the resources available in your area on Her PLAN’s directory and connect with State Coordinator Lindsey Moon to help empower mothers and babies with the support they need to thrive.
