This study, conducted in the large U.S. state of Texas, examined access to mental healthcare for school-age children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Guided by an ecological-resilience framework, the study involved semi-structured ethnographic interviews with mothers (N = 30) in emergency domestic violence shelters. Mothers described their identified “focus child’s” emotional and behavioural challenges, and barriers and facilitators to accessing child mental healthcare prior to entering shelters. Standardized measures and qualitative data indicated high need for mental healthcare among the children. Findings showed varied help-seeking trajectories, with families experiencing twice as many barriers as facilitators. Facilitators with particular resonance for mothers were her persistence, extended family support, and mother-school interactions. Most common barriers were IPV, maternal beliefs, immigration-related dynamics, and negative provider responses. Although most children did not successfully access mental healthcare prior to shelter arrival, once there they engaged in child-centered services. Practice lessons are discussed.