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Cultural Competence in Domestic Violence Services

Domestic violence affects people regardless of race, ethnicity, class, sexual and gender identity, religious affiliation, age, immigration status, and ability. Because victims of domestic violence may experience the abuse in culturally specific ways, service providers should consider the cultural background and the unique issues faced by the victim and their children in order to tailor services to meet their needs. This section includes resources on providing culturally competent services to children, youth, and families who have been exposed to domestic violence.

• Military families

Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence Serves as a forum for and clearinghouse on information, research, resources, and critical issues about violence against women in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community Works to enhance society's understanding of and ability to end violence in the African-American community. Mending the Sacred Hoop Technical Assistance Project Provides training and technical assistance to American Indian and Alaskan Native communities in the effort to eliminate violence in the lives of women and their children. National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence (Alianza) Focuses on generating solutions that move toward the elimination of domestic violence affecting Latino communities. National Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women Seeks to challenge and eliminate all forms of oppression and discrimination against immigrant women facing violence by empowering them to build better lives of their choice. Sacred Circle, National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women Provides technical assistance, policy development, training institutes, and resource information on domestic violence and sexual assault to develop a coordinated agency response in American Indian/Alaska Native Tribal communities. The Women of Color Network Promotes and supports networking and leadership development for women of color advocates and activists working in fields of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other fields related to violence against women and their families.

Activist Dialogues: How Domestic Violence and Child Welfare Systems Impact Women of Color and Their Communities (PDF - 276 KB)
Family Violence Prevention Fund (2005)
Explores how to improve services to battered women and their children and addresses ways to prevent these families from becoming involved in the child welfare system.

Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment in Native Communities
Goodmark
ABA Child Law Practice, 24(1), 2005
View Abstract
Reviews the scope of the problem, unique issues and experiences of Native people that affect how these co-occurring issues are addressed, and changing practices. Highlights prevention efforts of the Sitka Safe Start Initiative, a collaboration between the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and community-based agencies.

Domestic Violence at the Intersections of Race, Class, and Gender
Sokoloff & Dupont
Violence Against Women, 11(1), 2005
View Abstract
Provides a comprehensive review of the emerging domestic violence literature using a race, class, gender, sexual orientation intersectional analysis and structural framework fostered by women of color and their allies to understand the experiences and contexts of domestic violence for marginalized women in U.S. society.

Family Violence in a Cultural Perspective: Defining, Understanding, and Combating Abuse
Malley-Morrison & Hines (2003)
View Abstract
Focuses on family violence from four major ethnic populations in the United States: Native American Indian, African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian American.

Fostering Resilient Coping in Children Exposed to Violence: Cultural Considerations
Graham-Bermann & Halabu (2004)
In Protecting Children From Domestic Violence: Strategies for Community Intervention
View Abstract
Uses examples from two culturally competent groups for children to illustrate the need to understand the wide range of circumstances experienced by children, the role of the therapist, the appropriateness of interventions, and the importance of recognizing positive aspects of the child's culture.

Immigrant & Refugee Women's Rights Project
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Educates women about their rights and develops their leadership so that they can become involved in changing policies that affect them.

Innovative Strategies to Address Domestic Violence in Asian and Pacific Islander Communities: Examining Themes, Models and Interventions
Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence (2002)
Explores emerging practices that address domestic violence in Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Interpersonal Violence in the African American Community: Evidence-Based Prevention and Treatment Practices
Hampton, Gullotta, & Ramos (2006)
View Abstract
Examines interpersonal violence within the African-American community and offers evidence-based practices for prevention and intervention.

Intersecting Child Welfare, Substance Abuse, and Family Violence: Culturally Competent Approaches
Fong, Hendricks, & McRoy (2006)
View Abstract
Draws from a 2001 task force meeting that examined the intersection of child welfare, substance abuse, and family violence to explore the relationship among these variables in the context of culturally competent social work practice.

Jewish Women International
Offers information on projects, resources, and training to support the safety of women and girls, as well as ways to identify and serve victims of abuse and ideas to break the cycle of violence in Jewish relationships and homes.

Learning From the Experiences of Battered Immigrant, Refugee and Indigenous Women Involved With Child Protective Services to Inform a Dialogue Among Domestic Violence Activists and Advocates (PDF - 1349 KB)
Enos (2003)
Presents findings from a project that investigated how child protective services (CPS) can be more responsive to families experiencing domestic violence, how domestic violence advocates can be more effective, and how the community can provide support to families involved with CPS.

Preventing Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in Racial/Ethnic Minority Communities: CDC's Demonstration Projects
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2007)
Highlights challenges and lessons learned from 10 demonstration projects funded to develop, implement, and evaluate culturally competent violence prevention programs targeted for specific racial/ethnic minority groups.

Strengthening Families in the Korean/Asian Immigrant Community (PDF - 723 KB)
Im (2003)
Examines the incidence and impact of domestic violence within the Korean/Asian immigrant community and the role of faith-based and service organizations in responding to such violence.

Understanding Children, Immigration, and Family Violence: A National Examination of the Issues (PDF - 287 KB)
Learning Systems Group & Family Violence Prevention Fund (2005)
Identifies challenges and opportunities in reaching out to and delivering services to immigrant children and families affected by domestic violence, best practices in serving them, and policy implications for the work.

Victim Services: Promising Practices in Indian Country (PDF - 749 KB)
Tribal Law and Policy Institute (2004)
Describes promising practices for meeting the needs of victims of violence and domestic and family abuse in Native American communities.

Working With Specific Populations
National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women
Lists resources that address the various issues that impact the lives of victims and survivors in specific populations.

Updated on December 18, 2008