Immigration / Resettlement Content Topic Results

Responding to the Needs of Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence

ckeene — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:33:29 +0000

Responding to the Needs of Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence ckeene Thu, 08/11/2016 - 13:33

Published

October 01, 2018

Author(s)

The term “immigrant" refers to individuals who come to one country from another country in order to live there permanently or for an extended period of time. Immigrants are very diverse, from varied socio-cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds. They include individuals and families who have lived in the U.S. for a short period of time, as well as those who have lived in the country for many years. They have different histories and biographies, including their experiences in their country of origin, on their journey from their home country, of the immigration process, and of living in the United States. Many immigrants are U.S. citizens or possess different types of legal immigration status, and some may be undocumented. This diversity among immigrant communities also extends to their experiences of domestic violence.

While there are differences in domestic violence experienced by immigrant survivors, there may be commonalities, such as patterns of abuse tied to the survivors’ experiences as an immigrant, as well as challenges and barriers to seeking help. Similarly, domestic violence service providers may face common challenges in offering services to immigrant survivors. These challenges and barriers could be linked to a limited understanding of issues related to the survivors’ immigration status, eligibility for public assistance, different cultural practices, English language proficiency, etc. It is also essential to note the importance of using a strengths-based approach, recognizing the courage, strength, resilience, and perseverance of immigrants who have sought to establish a new life for themselves and their children in the United States. This special collection explores the complex experiences of immigrant survivors and includes resources to support their path to safety and justice. It also includes resources that help domestic violence service providers respond effectively and appropriately to immigrant survivors.

It is important to note here that several documents included in this Special Collection focus on laws and regulations related to maintaining legal immigration status, public assistance, and related matters. These laws and regulations change over time and thus some of the documents included here may be dated or may become dated. For up-to-date resources on laws and regulations, please also consult the expert organizations listed at the end of this collection. This collection will be updated with new resources as they become available, and we welcome your comments and suggestions via VAWnet’s online contact form.

This collection was originally developed in 2009 by Sheetal Rana with the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse, updated by Patty Branco on October 2018, and complements the related collections, Immigrant Women and Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking. Special thanks to Rosie Hidalgo and Heidi Notario for their valuable contributions.

Navigating the Civil Legal System: Resources for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Their Advocates, and Legal Professionals

ckeene — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:56:45 +0000

Navigating the Civil Legal System: Resources for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Their Advocates, and Legal Professionals ckeene Fri, 08/12/2016 - 13:56

Published

December 01, 2015

Survivors of domestic violence can face a number of legal issues that either directly stem from, or are affected by, the actions of those who use abuse and violence. These issues can include obtaining protection orders against an abuser; filing for divorce; seeking custody of and/or visitation with minor children; and filing for child support. This collection of resources is divided, in part, by these topics and is specifically focused on those legal issues most commonly arising in family court.

Please note that the focus of this resource collection is civil legal issues rather than criminal legal matters.* The collection includes both national and state legal resources for advocates and legal professionals working with survivors of domestic violence, as well as survivors who either may be representing themselves in protection order and family law proceedings or who are seeking legal referrals. In addition, this collection includes a number of directories to assist in locating legal services for survivors in specific states, including legal aid organizations, paid attorneys, and volunteer attorneys, as well as information on how state laws and court procedures differ.

While many survivors of domestic violence choose to pursue legal remedies to address abuse and related issues, and there are often positive benefits associated with obtaining legal help, there are many survivors who wish to avoid the legal system for a number of reasons and instead pursue other avenues of support. Listed below are just a few of the considerations that might be important to individual survivors:

Legal representation is expensive, and there are often associated and sometimes unanticipated costs.
Though evidence suggests economic benefits to society associated with providing legal services to domestic violence survivors, and that the benefits to be gained by subsidizing more legal services can often justify their costs, low- or no-cost legal representation is not always guaranteed (Supporting Survivors: The Economic Benefits of Providing Civil Legal Assistance to Survivors of Domestic Violence, 2015).
Pursuing legal remedies requires a great deal of time for case preparation, meetings with attorneys, and court hearings, thereby adding another layer of challenges to a survivor’s life.
It can prove intimidating, and even dangerous, to bring a legal action against or face an abuser in court.
Life-changing decisions such as custody of minor children are often ultimately left to the determination of a judge; the potential exists for a decision to be made that might not be ideal, or even favorable, to the survivor or her children.
Significantly, many survivors may face discrimination from the legal system itself, particularly survivors of color, LGBT survivors, survivors with disabilities, and survivors with limited English proficiency.
Because of laws regarding tribal and state jurisdiction, Native survivors may not even be able to access appropriate and necessary legal remedies.

Such barriers and discrimination may substantially, and understandably, dissuade survivors from engaging with the civil legal system.

Survivors are strongly encouraged to seek advice and support from a domestic violence advocate or other trusted source before pursuing legal action against an abusive partner. Also, in the event a survivor decides not to pursue legal action, there are a number of alternative types of support available to her/him. For more information on the specific types of support that exist for survivors, please contact your state domestic violence coalition.

Please note that there are a number of legal issues that can and often do intersect with domestic violence, including housing, economics and finance, immigration, and criminal legal issues. This collection does not cover those topics. While some of the material included here addresses immigration status as it relates to other legal issues in immigrant survivors’ lives, information on representing survivors in immigration proceedings is outside of the scope of this resource collection. For more information on the myriad issues affecting immigrant survivors of domestic violence, please access the VAWnet Special Collection, Immigrant Women and Domestic Violence.

Please note that the resources found below are for informational purposes only and do not contain legal advice.

* For more information on the intersection of criminal legal matters and domestic violence, please visit the Battered Women’s Justice Project.

Immigrant Women and Sexual Violence

ckeene — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:26:17 +0000

Immigrant Women and Sexual Violence ckeene Thu, 08/11/2016 - 14:26

Published

October 01, 2013

This collection addresses some of the problems faced by immigrant women survivors of sexual violence in the United States. Additionally, this collection provides resources and tools for immigrant women and service providers who assist them, such as advocates, lawyers, and medical professionals. The annotated bibliography includes resources on many immigrant communities to highlight strategies that may be successful in stopping violence against immigrant women.

The immigrant population in the U.S. is diverse, and the barriers and challenges faced by immigrant women who experience sexual violence vary. This special collection is not comprehensive, and the documents included in this collection do not cover all immigrant communities. Rather, this collection highlights the common experiences of immigrant women who are victims of sexual violence, the legal protections and public benefits available, and practices and suggestions for increasing the effectiveness of services provided to immigrant women. This collection is also limited to documents that are freely available online.

We intend to update this special collection regularly and add new documents as they become available. We welcome your comments, suggestions, and information about documents for this special collection. Please submit your comments via VAWnet’s online contact form.

This collection was developed by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (March 2009), updated by ASISTA (October 2013), and complements the parallel collection, Immigrant Women and Domestic Violence.

Embrace Refugee Birth

fdaza — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:21:49 +0000

Embrace Refugee Birth fdaza Wed, 07/22/2026 - 17:21

General Material

Published Date

September, 2025

Publisher(s)

Friends of Refugees

The Embrace Refugee Birth program helps refugee and other New American mothers navigate pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period through culturally responsive education and individualized support. Services include childbirth education, postpartum doula care, breastfeeding support, language-accessible guidance, and assistance navigating healthcare systems, helping mothers build confidence, improve health outcomes, and access the resources they need during pregnancy and early parenthood.

Associated Links

Program

Webpage

Material Categories

Community Organizing / Mobilization / Engagement

Raising Awareness

Accessibility

Healthcare

Immigration / Resettlement

Public Benefits

Reproductive Justice

Communities of Color

Health / Public Health

Parenting

Service Accessibility: Service Providers’ Perspectives on Barriers Faced by Immigrant Women of Color Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

ckeene — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:24:54 +0000

Service Accessibility: Service Providers’ Perspectives on Barriers Faced by Immigrant Women of Color Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence ckeene Wed, 06/11/2025 - 11:24

General Material

Published Date

June, 2025

Publisher(s)

Journal of Family Violence

Author(s)

Rachel Ramirez-Hammond

These findings highlight the importance of ensuring immigrant women of color experiencing violence can access equitable resources and skills to meet their needs, heal, and live a life free from violence. Based on the perspectives of service providers, this study highlights key challenges experienced by immigrant women of color in accessing and utilizing mainstream domestic violence services in the United States. The authors' findings also emphasize the interrelated nature of these existing barriers.

Associated Links

Full article

Material Categories

Accessibility

Cultural Competence

Immigration / Resettlement

Communities of Color

Domestic Violence

Immigrant / Refugee

Boletin: Safeguarding immigrant survivors | Boletin: Defensa de l@s sobrevivientes inmigrantes

ckeene — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:15:11 +0000

Boletin: Safeguarding immigrant survivors | Boletin: Defensa de l@s sobrevivientes inmigrantes ckeene Mon, 12/09/2024 - 13:15

General Material

Published Date

December, 2024

New Resources Added

December 09, 2024

Publisher(s)

Esperanza United

This document serves as an educational tool for policymakers, shedding light on the existing gaps in safeguarding immigrant communities and their adverse impacts on survivors of gender-based violence. While many assume that the solutions lie within the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), this is not the case. Policymakers need to grasp the extent of the challenges, including the total cumulative number of VAWA, T, and U visa applications pending before United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) yet to be adjudicated and the length of time each case has been pending.

Este documento sirve como una herramienta educativa para responsables de políticas, arrojando luz sobre las brechas existentes en la protección de las comunidades inmigrantes y sus impactos adversos en l@s sobrevivientes de violencia de género. Aunque muchas personas asumen que las soluciones ya han sido abordadas dentro de la Ley sobre la violencia contra las mujeres (VAWA, por sus siglas en inglés), esto no es así. L@s responsables de políticas deben comprender la magnitud de los desafíos, incluyendo el número total acumulado de solicitudes pendientes de visas VAWA, T y U ante el Servicio de ciudadanía e inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés) que aún no han sido adjudicadas, así como el tiempo que cada caso lleva pendiente.

Associated Links

Boletin in English

Boletin en español

Material Categories

Cultural Competence

Immigration / Resettlement

Immigrant / Refugee

2024 National Prevention Town Hall

ckeene — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:57:40 +0000

2024 National Prevention Town Hall ckeene Thu, 08/29/2024 - 12:57

General Material

NRCDV Publications

Training Tools

Published Date

August, 2024

New Resources Added

August 29, 2024

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

What does prevention look like when rooted in community and culture, outside of systems? As we continue to navigate the impact from COVID and the many related shifts we’ve experienced in the past years, our values have transformed and so must our strategies. The 5th annual National Prevention Town Hall features anti-violence prevention approaches in the Mountain region of the United States.

This space offers a virtual gallery tour of innovative change-making projects, collectives, and approaches that fuel us all forward. This gallery tour can allow us to learn about what’s being mobilized beyond the systems we often work in for violence prevention. A panel follows the gallery tour so we can weave together meaningful connections and address questions about reconnection, restoration, and re-indigenizing practices in the Mountain region.

Presenters explore creative, sustainable approaches for advancing social change in the face of uncertainty. Across all aspects of our movement work - from housing rights to survivor healing to restorative justice - each of us plays a critical part in creating the world we wish to live into together. In the words of Gwendolyn Brooks, “We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

¿Cómo se ve la prevención cuando está cimentada en la comunidad y la cultura, al margen de los sistemas? A medida que seguimos enfrentando el impacto del COVID y los muchos cambios que hemos experimentado en los últimos años, nuestros valores se han transformado y así también deben hacerlo nuestras estrategias. El 5º Congreso Nacional de Prevención presentará los enfoques de prevención de la violencia en la Región Montañosa de los Estados Unidos.

Este espacio ofrecerá un recorrido virtual por las galerías de diferentes proyectos, colectivos y enfoques innovadores que impulsan el cambio y nos permiten avanzar a todes. Esta visita a la galería puede permitirnos conocer lo que está sucediendo en materia de prevención de violencia más allá de los sistemas con los que solemos trabajar. Luego de la visita a la galería, se llevará a cabo una mesa redonda en la que se establecerán conexiones significativas y se abordarán preguntas con relación a la reconexión, la restauración y las prácticas de reindigenización en la Región Montañosa.

Únete a nosotres para explorar los enfoques creativos y sostenibles que impulsen el cambio social frente a la incertidumbre. En todos los aspectos del trabajo que realiza nuestro movimiento, desde el derecho a la vivienda y la sanación de sobrevivientes, hasta la justicia restauradora, cada une de nosotres juega un papel fundamental en la creación del mundo en el que queremos vivir juntes. En palabras de Gwendolyn Brooks, “Somos la cosecha del otre; somos el asunto del otre; somos la magnitud y el vínculo del otre”.

Associated Links

Registration Link

Video Recording - Day 1 (English)

Video Recording - Day 1 (Spanish)

Video Recording - Day 2 (English)

Video Recording - Day 2 (Spanish)

Associated Files

Attachment	Size
Event Program (English)	5.7 MB
Event Program (Spanish)	3.16 MB
Presentation Slides - Day 1 (English)	15.51 MB
Presentation Slides - Day 2 (English)	11.18 MB
Presentation Slides - Day 1 (Spanish)	14.46 MB
Presentation Slides - Day 2 (Spanish)	9.35 MB
Graphic Recording - Day 1 (English)	7.5 MB
Graphic Recording - Day 1 (Spanish)	7.38 MB
Graphic Recording - Day 2 (English)	7.66 MB
Graphic Recording - Day 2 (Spanish)	7.57 MB
Banner Image	1.67 MB

Material Categories

Coalition Building

Collaboration / Bridge Building

Community Organizing / Mobilization / Engagement

Coordinated Community Response

Movement Building

Cultural Competence

Nontraditional Programming

Prevention Programming

Disability Rights

Immigration / Resettlement

LGBTQ Rights

Racial Justice

Attitudes / Perception / Awareness

Communities of Color

Disability

Domestic Violence

Health / Public Health

Immigrant / Refugee

Race

Queer and Trans Asians and Pacific Islanders: Strengths, Resources, and Barriers for Preventing Domestic Violence-Related Homicides

berdman — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:57:42 +0000

Queer and Trans Asians and Pacific Islanders: Strengths, Resources, and Barriers for Preventing Domestic Violence-Related Homicides berdman Wed, 10/18/2023 - 11:57

General Material

Published Date

October, 2023

Publisher(s)

Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence (APIGBV)

Author(s)

Fatima Arain

Susan Ghanbarpour

This report presents a groundbreaking qualitative research project focusing on the prevention of domestic violence-related homicides among queer and trans Asians and Pacific Islanders (QTAPI). It uncovers the complex web of risk factors, including isolation and systemic oppression, which heighten the vulnerability of QTAPI survivors. Despite these challenges, the report highlights community-driven solutions that emphasize cultural values and healing, ultimately offering hope for a more supportive and inclusive future.

Associated Links

Queer and Trans Asians and Pacific Islanders: Strengths, Resources, and Barrier…

Material Categories

Cultural Competence

Prevention Programming

Immigration / Resettlement

Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

The State of the Field: Data from the Frontlines of South Asian Gender-Based Violence Work

berdman — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:41:39 +0000

The State of the Field: Data from the Frontlines of South Asian Gender-Based Violence Work berdman Tue, 10/03/2023 - 12:41

General Material

Published Date

October, 2023

Publisher(s)

South Asian SOAR

Much of the mainstream research on gender-based violence (GBV) overlooks or generalizes GBV in AAPI and South Asian communities. To address this gap, South Asian SOAR (SOAR) conducted nationwide listening sessions in 2021 with organizations on the frontlines of GBV work in South Asian American communities. In October 2022, the findings of these listening sessions were shared in the publication of a national report titled Together We Rise. This report presented a qualitative landscape assessment of the challenges and needs of South Asian communities experiencing gender-based violence. However, a crucial need remained for quantitative data to better understand community-based organizations and the survivors they work with, including the programs and services they offer, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on them. To address this gap, SOAR surveyed its member organizations, the only national network of South Asian GBV organizations. This report marks a significant stride towards gathering and disseminating essential data about GBV within South Asian communities.

Associated Links

The State of the Field: Data from the Frontlines of South Asian Gender-Based Vi…

Material Categories

Immigration / Resettlement

Together We Rise: Voices from the Frontlines of South Asian Gender-Based Violence Work

berdman — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 19:31:18 +0000

Together We Rise: Voices from the Frontlines of South Asian Gender-Based Violence Work berdman Tue, 10/03/2023 - 15:31

General Material

Published Date

October, 2022

Publisher(s)

South Asian SOAR

Together We Rise is the first of its kind in that it centers community-based leadership across South Asian communities in the US to expand and deepen knowledge about the gender-based violence movement.

In the summer of 2021, South Asian SOAR (SOAR), convened listening sessions with its network of 30+ frontline organizations across 13 states. These conversations elucidated the complex, nuanced, and often overlooked, challenges and needs of South Asian survivors and communities in the US. This report shares the key findings from those listening sessions, and through it, South Asian SOAR strives to ultimately generate increased funding, improve research & data collection, and drive policy changes that accurately meet South Asian survivors’ needs.

Associated Links

Together We Rise: Voices from the Frontlines of South Asian Gender-Based Violen…

Material Categories

Cultural Competence

Immigration / Resettlement