We are a blessed organization to count so many other agencies as our friends. One of our closest partners is SARPA (Sexual Assault Recovery and Prevention Agency). We often refer clients to each other, and SARPA conducts a weekly support group in English and Spanish at our shelter. This is a tremendous resource to offer our clients who are working towards healing the emotional wounds of violence.

A growing area of partnership that we are very proud of is with a number of disabilities services agencies in our area, including Sources and Arkansas Support Network. New studies from the Department of Justice show that the rates of violence and sexual assault against individuals with disabilities are much higher than in the general population. This coordinated response from programs like ours and local disabilities service providers is essential in addressing a problem that has epidemic proportions.

A list of our organization’s friends will always include local law enforcement and justice system officials. The officers who respond to calls regarding domestic violence and sexual assault are the first line of protection and safety for victims of these crimes, and they are often the ones who make the initial referral of a client to our program. We then turn to the judicial system to assist our clients in securing Orders of Protection or other measures that will serve them as they move toward a new beginning.

Through our partnerships we have confirmed what we already know: Northwest Arkansas is a giving, caring community with many people and agencies committed to serving those in need.