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Community Corner

La Fuente December: Panel discussion on Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence

La Fuente, a coalition of organizations committed to providing resources and information to the Spanish speaking population in Westchester, will host a panel discussion to address domestic/intimate partner violence in the Hispanic community, how to work with survivors and families and how to effectively engage those who are reluctant to seek assistance. Westchester Independent Living Center will host the DECEMBER 4th, 10:00am meeting at their fully accessible offices, located at 200 Hamilton Avenue, 2nd floor, White Plains, NY.

 

Panel participants are Martha Anderson, Westchester County Office for Women and Stephanie Avila, Hope’s Door. Since 2001 Attorney Martha Anderson has worked at the Westchester County Office for Women as the Spanish Speaking Program Specialist providing comprehensive services to Spanish speaking women that include: counseling and support in domestic violence cases; court accompaniment; safety planning; and immigration services; Stephanie Avila is the Bilingual Counselor and Advocate at Hope’s Door, an organization serving victims of domestic violence. Through Hope’s Door Ms. Avila works to help Hispanic women maintain their safety while healing from the effects of domestic violence and provides individual and group counseling, takes crisis hotline calls, and advocates for her clients.

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According to Hope’s Door website, in 2012 there were 11,381 domestic violence incidents reported to the police in Westchester County. However, since only 43% of victims served by Hope’s Door had ever reported abuse to the police the real number could be double that.  Domestic violence cases often go unreported among the general population but more so among undocumented Hispanics.

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Also called Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Domestic Violence (DV) is found in every socio-economic group, every cultural, racial, ethnic group and any religious or non-religious group. The perpetrator or victim could be highly educated, gay or straight, any gender and any age. While anyone can be a victim there is a disproportionate impact on women, girls and the children in a relationship. Abuse takes many forms: emotional, physical, sexual, economic and psychological and is any behavior with an aim of depriving its victim of the independence and respect that the abuser demands for him/herself in the relationship. (hopesdoorny.org)

Less likely to access protective services, woman who are immigrants face a language barrier. They are unaware of their protections under the law and unlikely to report incidents of violence for many reasons, including fear of deportation, of seeing their families split up and the danger of provoking increased violence.  They are more isolated from the general population, and face strong cultural pressures to keep their families intact.

Organizations currently working with the Spanish speaking population or organizations that would like to develop more effective outreach are encouraged to attend.

 

The discussion will be moderated by Tamaris Princi, Minority Outreach Coordinator at Westchester Independent Living Center, and a founding member of La Fuente. More information on La Fuente is available at lafuenteny.org. Resources for community organizations on better outreach for better outcomes will be available.

 

The public is welcome. For more information or to RSVP contact Tamaris Princi at 914-682-3926 extension 2114 or email tprinci@wilc.org.

 

 

CALL 211

ALAS is the first Spanish-language, community-based Latino Sexual Assault/Rape Hotline in Westchester County. Trained Latino and immigrant volunteers will answer the hotline to address the multi-layered and diverse needs of Latino victims and survivors in a culturally-relevant manner. While the program is designed to serve the Spanish speaking community, no one will be denied help. (Recibe informacion gratis y confidencial a cualquier hora del dia.)  

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