Why Domestic Violence Survivors Struggle to Access Help

Imagine escaping abuse…only to spend the next six weeks riding buses across the city, retelling your trauma to 22 different agencies.

One office for a protection order.

Another for counseling.

Another for housing assistance.

Another for medical care.

Another for legal support.

Another for childcare.

Another for financial assistance.

And every time, a new form. A new appointment. A new stranger asking you to relive the worst moments of your life all over again.

For many survivors of domestic violence, this is what happens after they find the courage to leave.

The problem isn’t just abuse. 

The problem is how hard we make survivors work to get help afterward. And in Arkansas, that is about to change.

The System Was Never Designed for Trauma

Most people assume that once a survivor leaves an abusive relationship, help is straightforward and easy to access.

In reality, the process can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and impossible to navigate – especially for someone in crisis.

According to the Arkansas courts’ Domestic Violence Handbook for Victims, survivors often must navigate:

• protection orders,
• court systems,
• housing assistance,
• counseling,
• safety planning,
• law enforcement,
• victim witness coordination,
• and numerous additional agencies and legal processes just to begin rebuilding their lives. 

Now imagine trying to do all of that while:

• fearing your abuser may find you,
• caring for traumatized children,
• missing work,
• lacking transportation,
• having little or no money,
• and suffering emotional trauma yourself.

For many survivors, every additional obstacle becomes another opportunity to give up and return to danger.

Why Survivors Often Return

People often ask: “Why didn’t they just leave?”

The better question is: “Why is getting help so difficult once they do?”

Leaving an abusive relationship is already the most dangerous time for a survivor. Research consistently shows women face dramatically increased risk when attempting to leave violent partners.

But beyond the danger itself, survivors also face:

• financial instability,
• housing insecurity,
• childcare challenges,
• fear,
• isolation,
• transportation barriers,
• legal complexity,
• and repeated re-traumatization.

Even obtaining an Order of Protection can require internet access, court filings, hearings, transportation, printing documents, and navigating legal terminology.

For someone in crisis, the system can feel impossible.

And too often, survivors return because the pathway forward feels harder than the abuse they are trying to escape.

Arkansas Faces a Serious Domestic Violence Crisis

Domestic violence is not a private issue affecting only a few families. It impacts every community, workplace, school, hospital, and neighborhood in Arkansas.

• Arkansas ranks among the states with the highest domestic violence rates in the country.
• Thousands of Arkansans seek help every year.
• Domestic violence remains one of the leading causes of emergency room visits for women. 

The impact extends far beyond physical violence.

Children exposed to violence often struggle academically, emotionally, and socially. Employers lose productivity and workforce stability. Healthcare systems absorb enormous costs. Law enforcement and courts carry heavy caseloads tied to domestic violence intervention.

This affects all of us.

Arkansas Is About to Change the Way Survivors Get Help

For the first time in state history, Arkansas will soon have a Family Peace Center.

Opening in June 2026, the Forest of Hope Family Peace Center will bring many of the services survivors need together under one roof.

Instead of traveling across the city to 22 different locations over 4–6 weeks, survivors will be able to access services in one safe location with coordinated support.

That means:

• shelter,
• legal advocacy,
• counseling,
• law enforcement,
• prosecution support,
• healthcare partnerships,
• children’s services,
• employment resources,
• and more – all connected in one place.

Most importantly, survivors can tell their story once instead of reliving it again and again.

That single change alone can reduce trauma significantly.

A Nationally Proven Model That Saves Lives

The Family Peace Center model is not experimental.

It is a nationally recognized best-practice approach supported by the U.S. Department of Justice. 

The model began in San Diego in 2002 after leaders sought a better way to respond to rising domestic violence homicide rates.

The solution was simple but powerful: Bring the agencies survivors need together in one coordinated location.

Today, hundreds of Family Justice and Family Peace Centers operate internationally. According to the Alliance for HOPE International, the model has demonstrated dramatic improvements in survivor access, safety, and service completion.

Now Arkansas is joining that movement.

This Building Changes Everything

The Forest of Hope Family Peace Center is more than a building.

It is a statement about who Arkansas wants to be.

• A place where survivors are met with dignity instead of barriers.
• A place where children can begin healing sooner.
• A place where people do not have to navigate fear and bureaucracy alone.

For decades, Women & Children First has helped survivors find safety, strength, and hope.

Now, Arkansas is taking the next step: creating a system designed around healing instead of hardship.

Because survivors should not have to fight this hard just to find help.

Need Help Now?

Women & Children First provides free and confidential support 24/7 for individuals experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or trafficking.

24-Hour Statewide Hotline: 800-332-4443

Learn more about the Forest of Hope Family Peace Center: Women & Children First