Arkansas's leading voice in the fight against domestic violence — serving 18,000+ survivors and their children with compassion, dignity, and a pathway to healing.
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Our Mission: To provide safety, strength, and hope for all impacted by domestic violence through crisis intervention, safe shelter, advocacy, and support services.
Our Vision: A future where all individuals live independently and free from domestic violence, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, disability, or national origin.
For nearly 50 years, Women & Children First has worked tirelessly to empower survivors and transform our community's response to violence. What began as a small crisis line has grown into one of Arkansas's most comprehensive support networks.
Safety. Strength. Hope.
We serve all survivors without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, disability, or national origin. Our commitment to trauma-informed, survivor-driven care is rooted in these core values.
Survivors lead their own journey; we empower, not direct.
Every person deserves kindness and respect.
We believe in futures free from violence.
Physical and emotional safety comes first, always.
We serve all survivors and build a community that reflects the diversity of those we serve.
We build strength at every level—individual, family, and community.
We understand that trauma impacts every aspect of a survivor's life. Our staff is trained in trauma-informed practice, creating environments and interactions that promote healing rather than re-traumatization.
We believe in strong partnerships, ethical conduct, and continuous learning. Supporting our staff is essential to supporting survivors.
From a grassroots beginning to Arkansas's leading voice against domestic violence—our journey of hope and transformation.
In 1976, concerned citizens in Little Rock came together to address a crisis: domestic violence survivors had nowhere safe to go. They founded Advocates for Battered Women. In 1978, the first safe shelter opened in a donated private home.
WCF helped form the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence and worked to pass critical legislation including the Arkansas Domestic Abuse Act and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Support groups and transitional housing programs were established.
In 1999, we became Women & Children First: The Center Against Family Violence. With shelter at capacity nearly every night, we doubled our size between 2002-2003, adding more beds, a computer lab, and children's educational areas.
Strong leadership and financial stewardship allowed WCF to continuously improve and expand. We became one of Arkansas's largest and longest-operating domestic violence service providers, serving families from across the state.
In 2018, we launched Camp HOPE America-Arkansas—an evidence-based program teaching children their past doesn't define their future. Today, we're building the Forest of Hope Family Peace Center—Arkansas's first comprehensive domestic violence resource center.
Throughout nearly 50 years, WCF has never closed its doors once.
Women & Children First is one of Arkansas's largest and longest-operating domestic violence service providers. Our impact speaks for itself.
18,000+
Survivors & Children Served
98,096
Shelter Days (10 Years)
57
of 75 Arkansas Counties
54→132
Beds (Current → FPC)
The people who lead Women & Children First are highly skilled, deeply compassionate, and dedicated to ending domestic violence.
Leading WCF's mission with vision and compassion, guiding the organization through its most transformative era as we build Arkansas's first Family Peace Center.
LaKese Hicks
Megan Hutchinson
Bo Higgins
Rihane Williams
George Schaefer
Chair
Wallace Smith
Chair Elect
Gina Moran
Treasurer
Jessica Sorg
Secretary
Cathy Browne
Campaign of Courage Chair
Recognized as a leader in shaping state and national responses to family violence — from helping pass the Arkansas Domestic Abuse Act and VAWA to pioneering Camp HOPE and building Arkansas's first Family Peace Center.
Recognizing our leadership, impact, and commitment to ending domestic violence in Arkansas.
Watch the Award Ceremony
Bringing the proven Family Peace Center model to Arkansas for the first time. Through this partnership, WCF is building the Forest of Hope Family Peace Center—joining 300+ successful centers internationally using U.S. Department of Justice-recognized best practices.
Evidence-based program teaching children their past doesn't define their future.
U.S. Department of Justice
Recognized Best Practice Model
Family Peace Center approach
Instrumental in passing critical legislation protecting survivors
Critical protections for survivors including protective orders and legal recourse
Federal funding and protections for domestic violence survivors nationwide
Lethality assessment protocols and emergency resources for high-risk cases
As we build the Forest of Hope Family Peace Center, we’re not just constructing a building—we’re transforming how Arkansas serves survivors for generations to come.
With 132 safe beds and 14+ partner agencies under one roof, survivors will rebuild their lives in days instead of weeks—everything they need in one trusted location.
Women & Children First: The Center Against Family Violence
