**Hark at Excellerate Foundation | ERA Communications Update**

In partnership with Benton County, our goal has been and will continue to be to distribute Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program dollars as efficiently as possible to residents that need it most in the midst of this pandemic. We will continue to communicate with you as things change or updates are made. Please see below.

Since February 2021, Benton County and Hark at Excellerate Foundation have partnered to distribute nearly $15M in rental assistance to county residents through ERA. As we approach the end of those funds, Benton County has worked hard to acquire additional available funding in order to continue meeting those needs given the recent spike and potential future spikes in COVID cases. While this additional funding has been approved, Benton County administrators expect a brief lag time until those funds are transfered from the U.S. Treasury. Unfortunately, there will likely be delays in the distribution of rental assistance funds until those dollars are received. We expect at least a one week delay in fund distribution.

**Changes are coming January 1st, 2022 to the Benton County Rental Assistance (ERA) program. Please read.**

Throughout the course of the ERA program, Benton County has monitored the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on county residents, revising program policies as needed to ensure that the level of financial assistance available matched the severity of conditions on the ground. As businesses have reopened, mask mandates have expired, and the unemployment rate has stabilized to pre-pandemic levels, Benton County is again making changes to reflect the current environment.

The following ERA policies for Benton County will go into effect on January 1, 2022:

If you have any questions or concerns please email [email protected]

EAP+ is here for you!

Bentonville Schools is partnered with Hark NWA and their EAP+ program which is a resource to you and the members of your immediate family. Through this service, you have direct access to a team of dedicated Community Liaisons that know the landscape of qualified community resources for our area.

A Liaison will work with you to create a tailor-made Resource Plan full of services relevant and affordable to you. This service is free and simple to use. Check out our FAQs below to learn more.

Get Connected

In order for Hark to best assist you, please fill out the information below.
(this is confidential)

Select areas you need support in:

Education
Food
Goods
Health
Housing
Legal
Money
Social support
Transit
Work
Please select at least one of the areas.
Please select at least one of the areas.

What is an EAP?

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a benefits program through your place of work. Its purpose is to help with personal and/or professional problems that may arise for you or a family member. Or as we like to call it, when life happens.

What is EAP+?

EAP+ is an addition to your Organization’s existing EAP. Many EAPs are traditionally only known for mental health services. EAP+ helps identify the needs in your life and connects you to solutions, “resources.” Think mental health, financial assistance, health and wellness, transportation, and more. EAP+ leverages Hark's resource map, which has thousands of vetted resources in Northwest Arkansas (NWA). This includes Organizations that provide free and/or reduced services. This list grows daily based on your requests. 

How do I access EAP+?

Visit your employee benefits portal or school website and find the link or button labeled Hark EAP+. Select the link or button to begin the free assessment process. A dedicated Community Liaison from Hark will be in touch within 24 hours.

Does it cost anything?

Besides a bit of your time, nothing!

Is EAP+ confidential?

Absolutely! Your privacy is deeply important. Extreme measures are taken to ensure interactions and personal information stays private, confidential, and is never shared back to your Organization unless requested by you.

Any collected information is stored in Hark’s HIPAA compliant platform.

Can I use this for my family?

Yes, EAP+ may be used for any member of your household as long as they live or receive resources in NWA.

How do I qualify?

All you have to do is take the first step! Locate the Hark EAP+ link or button on your Organization's website to get in touch with your dedicated Hark Community Liaison. It will be determined which community resources you qualify for during the assessment and resource identification step

Why can’t I just find resources myself?

In the age of Google, you are often your best researcher for quick knowledge. However, when life happens, or you aren’t sure where to turn, EAP+ is here to serve as a “master navigator” of health and human services in NWA.