The History of Women & Children First
Women and Children First: The Center Against Family Violence (WCF) was founded in 1976 as Advocates for Battered Women by a group of citizens concerned about the effects of domestic violence on the Little Rock community. In July 1999, the name was changed to Women and Children First: The Center Against Family Violence to better reflect the positive services provided for clients.
During its formative years in the late 1970s, WCF primarily provided support services, including counseling through Arkansas Women’s Rights and the recruitment of volunteers to accompany victims of domestic violence as they pressed charges against their abusers. In 1978, WCF opened its first safe shelter in a donated private home in Little Rock. Staff salaries and shelter maintenance were funded by both state-run and private organizations and programs.
In 1981, WCF joined a handful of other grassroots women’s groups to form the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV), a private nonprofit statewide network of coordinated services for victims of domestic violence. Together, with the assistance of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, these groups worked to help pass the Arkansas Domestic Abuse Act of 1991 and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in September 1994.
During the 1980s, WCF purchased an old storefront near Children’s Hospital for a new shelter with accommodations for children and developed a court advocacy program to assist clients seeking Orders of Protection. To help support its growing needs, WCF obtained additional funding from other sources that included the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and United Way. During this period, WCF also became heavily involved in marketing and public relations activities, including speaking engagements and establishing a newsletter that is still produced quarterly.
In addition, WCF began offering support services for both women and children, including support groups for sheltered residents and non resident domestic violence survivors. The transitional housing program was also established for women who needed more time to locate permanent housing due to extenuating circumstances.
During the 1990s, WCF completely renovated its safe house facilities with assistance from the City of Little Rock and added a fund-raising advisory board to the Board of Directors. WCF also began providing classes to help clients meet their educational and career goals, as well as classes in life skills, parenting, and the dynamics of domestic violence for shelter residents.
Between 1999 and 2001, the shelter was full almost every night and had over 100 callers who could not be accommodated. To meet this growing need, between 2002 and 2003 the shelter and administrative offices were moved to a larger building with double the square footage, a playroom and computer laboratory.
From 2004 to the present, WCF completed a Strategic Plan through a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. WCF also improved security at the shelter, adding electronic surveillance and motorized gates; rebuilt the fence; put in an ADA accessible ramp; and renovated several rooms with the assistance of volunteers and donations from the community.