Thread: Immigrants need individualized services in domestic violence

Here we go again. Something else the bankrupt Metro needs to pay for.
Immigrants need individualized services in domestic violence cases, experts say

By Peter Smith
psmith@courier-journal.com

Laura Carmona said that after she came to the United States from Mexico about 14 years ago, she would call police or other emergency responders to seek protection from an abusive partner.

But she didn't speak English and couldn't reach anyone who understood what she was saying.

When she finally reached a Spanish speaker at the Center for Women and Families, she said, she was able to start the long process of moving away from her abuser, learning English and starting a new job and creating a safe environment for her children.

The practical step of providing someone who spoke her language changed her life, she said. "It is why I could go out" from the abusive relationship, she said in an interview during a daylong conference that drew about 100 people Friday to the Americana Community Center in Louisville’s Southside neighborhood.

The conference, "The Intersection of Culture and Trauma," focused at improving outreaches to victims of domestic and sexual violence among immigrants and refugees.

Carmona said her own experience shows "why we need the services," such as counseling and shelter for victims, she said.

While providing people who speak immigrants' languages is critical, it's hardly the only need, speakers said.

High on the list is dismissing such notions as that domestic violence is just a normal part of foreign cultures — or that everybody in a culture thinks the same way.

"In every country and every group, there is violence," said keynote speaker Sujata Warrier of the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.

"No community is immune. But that doesn’t mean everybody is buying into it. Each person who comes to you is an individual."

Gretchen Hunt, an organizer of the conference, said she was pleased it drew not only counselors and advocates but also leaders of various ethnic communities.

"It's a mix of both, those providing services and people who are impacted," said Hunt, training coordinator for the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs.

"The goal is to create a safer community for all, and make sure we have language access and culturally competent services when immigrants and refugees come seeking help," she said. The conference was sponsored by the Coalition on Intimate Violence in International Communities.

It's an issue that has grown with populations that largely include new immigrant and refugees and their American-born children.

The Hispanic population more than doubled in both Kentucky and Jefferson County in the past decade, while the Asian-American population grew by more than 60 percent in both locations, according to U.S. Census figures. Jefferson County Public Schools had 4,774 students with limited English proficiency as of November 2010, with languages ranging from Spanish to Somali to Nepali to Burmese.

Thousands of refugees have arrived in Kentucky from countries torn by war and persecution.

Often, communities that have suffered persecution are reluctant to acknowledge problems of domestic violence in their midst because it might give them a bad image, said speaker Susan Heffner Rhema, a social worker specializing in trauma therapy.

But she said research shows such violence "is no more prevalent in any of the immigrant or refugee communities than it is in any American community."

Warrier said Americans seeking to help foreign-born victims need to understand not only clients' cultural backgrounds but also their own cultures’ shortcomings.

"When you create common ground, you move much further ahead than when you impose," she said.

In various workshops, participants reviewed such basics as victims' legal rights and the need for advocates to visit immigrant communities in their houses of worship and cultural events to make them aware of their services.

"Go to the festivals — eat, dance," said Jannine Sayago-Gonzalez, program director of La Casita Center, an outreach to Hispanic families.

One might wonder "how do you get referrals from festivals, but you do," she said. "You meet people and you invest in the community and you build trust."

"Before you do the outreach, communicate with the leaders, so if you go (to a home) they are not surprised," added Hassan Muya, a case worker with Catholic Charities and an organizer with the Somali Bantu Community in Kentucky.

Reporter Peter Smith can be reached at (502) 582-4469.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... od|mostcom

"Kentucky is becoming a sanctuary state for illegal invaders!"

"Notice they didn't mention her status!"

Send this article to Riggs and Williams!

Williams:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/S016.htm

Riggs:
http://162.114.4.18/mailform/H031.htm

Laura Carmona said that after she came to the United States from Mexico about 14 years ago, she would call police or other emergency responders to seek protection from an abusive partner.

But she didn't speak English and couldn't reach anyone who understood what she was saying.

Why would we allow someone to come to this country legally who doesn't speak a word of English? If she came to this country illegally, she doesn't deserve anything other than deportation.

Hard to imagine what someone like this brings to our country, other than problems and greater demands for social entitlements, as this story illustrates.

Yeah and all these IA "Victims" can apply for USA citizenship.

What do citizen get when they are abused ? A black eye/eyes .

Deporting her would have removed her from her abusive situation. She would also be among people who spoke her own language. Surely there are social services in Mexico.

What they need is a real strong kick in the back side so they can clear the river.Thats the biggest problem we have now is everybody is bellying down to their needs and this keeps on they think they dont have to learn english.They win this way by changing the ways for us.

Although some activist judge decided US taxpayers MUST pay schooling for illegal alien children, I don't think we should be required to teach them in a language other than English.

Let the activist organizations like LaRaza teach them English before they are enrolled, or let them sit there all year and not understand anything.

I am sick of it.

Laura Carmona said that after she came to the United States from Mexico about 14 years ago,

SO is she a legal immigrant? I doubt it,after 14 years and does not speak English . They are suppose to know English to become citizens of this nation.(I think they do not even enforce the rules to become citizens) We need to get rid of the bleeding hearts politicians and other groups that keep spending money that isn't there and isn't theirs to begin with.

So there are many other ethnic people in thhis country and ones that have a hard time with the English language. So we need to now hire interpreters for all these languages?

Get the hell out of here if you do not devote your time and energy to THIS NATION ALONE.

I complain: Price of gas, price of food, price of clothing, taxes, taxes, taxes, my electric bill, getting a decent paying job, taxes, taxes, taxes!!

Illegal aliens complain about nothing but government "paid by U.S." citizens. Services their not even entitled too!! Illegal alien BRATS!
America has lost it. These illegal aliens and their handlers are out of their minds! And working on my patience which is getting limited day to day.