Information for Victims of Domestic Violence

Background

 About 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by an intimate partner every year in the United States. [i] Although there are more women than men who experience domestic violence, it is not a single-gender issue.  According to a survey that asked Cambodians in the Boston area about domestic violence, 37% of the respondents knew a man who was being beaten by his partner. [ii]

Domestic violence is something that deeply affects our society. Nearly 2.2 million people called a domestic violence crisis or hotline in 2004 to escape crisis situations, seek advice, or assist someone they thought might be victims.[iii] Below are some examples of actions that are considered domestic violence:[iv]

  • Hitting, kicking, and punching
  • Preventing access to family finances
  • Threatening to take custody of the children or threatening to take the children away
  • Harming children as a punishment to one’s partner or spouse
  • Destroying property
  • Harming pets
  • Berating
  • Threatening violence
  • Restricting access to family and friends
  • Accusing the victim of infidelity
  • Forcing the victim to do sexual things he/she doesn’t want to or is uncomfortable with

Immigrants are especially affected by domestic violence.  A study conducted in New York found that 51% of intimate partner homicide victims were foreign-born, while 45% were born in the United States.[v]  In addition, 48% of Latinas in one study reported that their partner's violence against them had increased since they immigrated to the United States,[vi] and a survey of immigrant Korean women found that 60% had been battered by their husbands. [vii]

Victims not born in the United States may also have a harder time seeking help because of language or cultural barriers, or lack of access to social services. On average, only 70% of non-fatal partner violence is reported to law enforcement. [viii] Recent immigrants may also be more financially or socially dependent on their partners because they are not yet familiar with their surroundings, or lack a support network to fall back on. Victims may also be forced to stay in abusive relationships if their citizenship status depends on their partner.

There are many organizations in Washington State who can help immigrant victims of domestic violence.  The United States government also provides relief to victims of domestic violence who are immigrants through special visa programs.[ix]  If you, or anyone you know, need help, any of the organizations listed below may provide help.  All of these organizations specialize in working with immigrant or minority populations and are sensitive to the unique linguistic and cultural needs of the people they assist.

ORGANIZATIONS

The Asian Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center

The APIWFSC has a human trafficking project that can help victims by referring them to a safe place to stay, finding food and medical care, explaining  their rights and advocating for them, and helping them apply for legal status.

 Asian & Pacific Islander Women & Family Safety Center

PO Box 14047

Seattle, WA 98114

Ph: (206) 467-9976

Web: www.apiwfsc.org

 Chaya

Chaya is an organization that “supports South Asian survivors and families impacted by domestic violence and abuse and engages communities to change societal conditions that enable oppression, especially violence against women.”

 Chaya

P.O. Box 22291 Seattle, WA 98122

Ph: (206) 325-0325 or 1-877-92CHAYA

Web: www.chayaseattle.org

 Chinese Information & Service Center

The Chinese Information & Service Center provides naturalization services as well as resources both for crime victims and victims of domestic violence.

 CISC Main Office
611 S Lane St
Seattle WA 98104

Ph: 206-624-5633

Web: www.cisc-seattle.org

 Consejo Counseling & Referral Service

Consejo focuses on providing culturally appropriate services to Latino communities with a focus on families with children.  In addition to offering services for behavioral health, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and housing, Consejo also offers assistance for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  The organization works in King County, Yakima, and Kennewick.  Services include:

  • One-on one client advocacy
  • Emergency assistance to obtain emergency shelter, transportation, food, etc.
  • Self-sufficiency resources, such as housing, medical services, ESL classes, or vocational training.
  • Legal advocacy
  • Parenting support program
  • Crime victims services

For immediate assistance, call (206) 461-4880.  After 5pm, call their hotline at (206) 753-7006.

3808 S. Angeline Street

Seattle, WA 98118

(206) 725-7135

http://consejocounseling.org

Domestic Abuse Women’s Network

DAWN is an organization that offers support groups in English and Spanish, a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter, advocacy for older survivors, client advocacy, legal advocacy, and children’s programs.

Domestic Abuse Women’s Network

P.O. Box 88007

Tukwila, WA 98138

Ph: (425) 656-4305

www.dawnonline.org

Korean Women’s Association

The Korean Women’s Association provides both naturalization services and domestic violence victim services.

Korean Women's Association
123 East 96th Street
Tacoma WA 98445
Ph: 253-535-4202 or 1-888-508-2780

Multilingual Access Project

The goal of the Multilingual Access Project (MAP) is to reduce the number of and tolerance to domestic violence incidents in multi-ethnic and immigrant communities and to increase the responsiveness of communities to battered women and families.  MAP employs multilingual and culturally appropriate methods to do outreach, education, and advocacy.  Services offered include:

  • Multilingual Helpline (languages offered include Ahmaric, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Lao, Russian, Romanian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese)
  • Information on finding shelter and an advocate

Website: http://www.map-seattle.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

NWIRP assists “immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other violent crimes in gaining lawful status in the United States.” They also provide services for:

  • Seeking asylum
  • Child services
  • Deportation and removal defense
  • Family unity in immigration.

Western Washington:

NWIRP

615 2nd Ave, Suite 400. Seattle, WA 98104

Ph: (206) 587-4009 or (800) 445-5771.

Eastern Washington:

NWIRP

121 Sunnyside Ave, PO Box 270. Granger, WA 98932

 Ph: (509) 854-2100 or (888) 756-3641.

Web: www.nwirp.org

“Peace in the Home” Helpline

The “Peace in the Home” helpline offers assistance in 14 languages: Amharic or Amaryna, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Lao, Russian, Romanian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.  The helpline offers one-call access that connects non- and limited-English speaking domestic violence victims to a community-based agency that can serve their language and service needs.  For additional languages, contact peaceinthehome@seattle.gov for more information.

Toll-free: 1-888-847-7205

Refugee Women’s Alliance

ReWA is non-profit refugee and immigrant service organization that provides a domestic violence program. They also have services dealing with:

  • Early childhood education
  • Developmental disabilities
  • Educational & vocational training
  • Family support
  • Mental health
  • Parent education
  • Senior nutrition and wellness
  • Youth

Refugee Women’s Alliance

4008 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way South

Seattle, WA 98108

Ph: (206) 721-0243

Web: www.rewa.org

[i] Patricia Tjaden & Nancy Thoennes, U.S. Department of Justice, NCJ 183781, Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, at iv (2000), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/183781.htm

[ii] Marianne R. Yoshioka et al., Asian Family Violence Report: A Study of the Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, South Asian, and Vietnamese Communities in Massachusetts (2004), http://www.atask.org/Resources_AFVR.htm

[iii] National Network to End Domestic Violence Home Page. National Network to End Domestic Violence, n.d. Web. 22 Jul 2010. http://www.nnedv.org.

[iv] "Learn More: About Domestic Violence." Domestic Abuse Women's Network (DAWN). DAWN, n.d. Web. 22 Jul 2010. http://www.dawnonline.org/learn-more/default.htm#Section2.

[v] City of New York. Femicide in New York City: 1995-2002 . , 2004. Web. 22 Jul 2010. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/ip/femicide1995-2002_report.pdf.

[vi] Mary Dutton et al., Characteristics of Help-Seeking Behaviors, Resources, and Services Needs of Battered Immigrant Latinas: Legal and Policy Implications, 7 Geo. J. on Poverty L. and Pol'y 245 (2000).

[vii] Patricia Tjaden & Nancy Thoennes, U.S. Department of Justice, NCJ 181867, Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey (2000), available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/181867.htm

[viii] (Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S. 1993-2004, 2006.) http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/ipvus.pdf

[ix] United States. Immigration Options for Victims of Crime. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, 2010. Web. 2 Sep 2010. <http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1270658654030.shtm>.