Business Details
14 Years
experience
Mental Health Services for Children and Families in Arkansas
Arkansas Families First is a multidisciplinary mental health care group serving children, teens, and families in Central Arkansas. Founded with a mission to unlock the full potential of children and families, we combine the latest research with skilled professionals to deliver comprehensive psychological evaluations, counseling, and psychiatric services. Our team of independently practicing providers collaborates to ensure evidence-based treatments tailored to each family's needs. We prioritize parent involvement in all aspects of care, offering specialized programs like DBT for emotional regulation, PEERS for social skills, and Launch for young adults with autism.With over a decade of experience, we empower families through diagnostic accuracy, individualized treatment plans, and a strengths-based approach that integrates multiple disciplines. Our commitment to quality care is reflected in our partnerships with schools, use of genetic testing for medication management, and telehealth services expanding access across Arkansas.
Services
Evaluation and Testing
Psychiatric Medication Services
DBT Program
PEERS Program
Launch Program
Parent Workshops
Infant Mental Health
School Consultation
Telehealth Services
Genetic Testing
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- We offer evidence-based therapies tailored to children, teens, and families.
- Our team includes specialists in child psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral health.
- We provide comprehensive evaluations with individualized treatment recommendations.
- We integrate parents into all aspects of treatment and assessment.
- We offer specialized programs for ADHD, autism, anxiety, and emotional regulation.
What people say
Life saver for our family
Effective DBT program
Compassionate clinicians
Specialized autism support
Helpful parent workshops
Services
Evaluation and Testing
Our comprehensive evaluations use evidence-based tools to assess cognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral development. Specialists collaborate to provide diagnostic clarity and individualized recommendations for treatment, educational accommodations, and family support. Services include ADHD and autism spectrum assessments, neuropsychological testing, and forensic evaluations.
DBT Program
This structured program teaches teens and parents skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness through Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Weekly sessions include role-playing, homework practice, and parent training to improve communication and reduce family conflict.
PEERS Program
Designed for teens aged 13-18, this evidence-based program builds social competence through role-play and group practice. Focus areas include friendship development, conflict resolution, and digital communication skills, with parallel parent sessions for reinforcement at home.
Psychiatric Services
Child and adolescent psychiatrists provide comprehensive evaluations and medication management using genetic testing to optimize treatment. Services integrate input from therapists, schools, and primary care providers to ensure coordinated care for conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
Telehealth Services
Secure virtual sessions offer counseling, psychiatric evaluations, and parent consultations across Arkansas. Telehealth reduces barriers to care with HIPAA-compliant platforms while maintaining treatment effectiveness through structured homework and progress monitoring.
People
Dr. Adam Benton
Psychologist
Specializes in child psychology and behavioral health with expertise in trauma-focused treatments. Leads school consultation services and forensic evaluations.
Janelle Von Storch
LPC
Licensed professional counselor with specialization in early childhood mental health and parent-child interaction therapy.
Khiela Holmes
PhD
Clinical psychologist focusing on developmental disorders and evidence-based interventions for children and families.
Questions
What insurance plans do you accept?
We accept most major plans including BCBS, Tricare, United Behavioral Health, and Cigna. Not currently accepting Medicaid patients.
Do you offer telehealth services?
Yes, we provide secure online counseling and psychiatric appointments with HIPAA-compliant platforms.
What ages do you treat?
We specialize in services for infants through young adults, with programs tailored to specific developmental stages.
Are parent sessions included?
Yes, parent participation is integrated into most treatment programs to support child progress and family dynamics.
What types of evaluations are available?
We offer psychological, educational, developmental, and neuropsychological testing for learning disorders, autism, and behavioral concerns.
Do you provide school support?
Yes, we offer consultation services, mental health screenings, and safety programs for schools across Arkansas.
Reviews (5)
Susieq Tabler
May 17, 2019
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Everyone is awesome. The receptionist is always very polite & helpful. Both of my children go & see Paula, Dr. Holmes, Dr. Aldea & Dr. Bagley & they are all very nice & professional & great at their jobs. I would recommend them to anyone.
Phyllis Dudderar
Jul 22, 2018
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I send everyone that needs help to Arkansas Families First. My son has been going on and off for 7 plus years and the staff and therapists are top notch.
Shanda Ferguson
Dec 01, 2017
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Dr. Benton has been a blessing to my son and my family. He has helped us navigate the Autism diagnosis both at home and at school. Highly recommend.
Jamie Daniels
Aug 06, 2017
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My daughter was seen back in August it's now November and I have not been provided with my daughter evaluation which is needed to get my daughter assistance with school. I called Arkansas Family First numerous of times asking about the report, over and over I was told I will get a phone call and I never did. Today I called and was hangup on when I asked how do I escalate this issue. If I would have known this is how they do business I would have never used thier services. I had to take off work, my family used thier time to get my child to her appointment. No problem billing my insurance but it
Tiffany Hicks
Oct 07, 2015
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Meeting with the Dr was not the issue, not meeting with my son, the patient was the issue. It took over 6 months to get an appointment to see the Dr. I was under the impression the appointment was an intake evaluation for him, instead I spent 30 minutes talking with the Dr, never once did he truly talk to my son. I paid for me to see the Dr and was sorely disappointed. If I had known this was an intake appointment for me, I would not have pulled my son away from camp and I would have found someone else. As a parent looking for resources to help her child cope, this should have been explained to
