Immerse Arkansas founder talks to Rotary Club about group's work with foster care youth

March 31, 2026 — Although vulnerable young Arkansans growing up in the foster care system are often marked by trauma and neglect, an advocate said Tuesday, several in-state groups are collaborating to address the “manageable” statewide issue.

Eric Gilmore, CEO of Immerse Arkansas, told members of the Little Rock Rotary Club that he had witnessed the cyclical challenges of the system, with those who grew up in foster care often growing up to have children who ended up in foster care themselves.

In an attempt to create multifaceted solutions, Gilmore said leaders from Immerse Arkansas and several other groups had launched a “Ready for Life” task force a few months ago, which was now in the midst of a “landscape analysis.”

Stefan Specht, who joined Immerse Arkansas about 11 years ago on the recommendation of his case worker after aging out of foster care, also addressed the Rotarians. Specht, now a program alum, is the head of one of the task force’s subcommittees, which is composed entirely of young Arkansans.

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