RE: Directory of Programs Serving Battered Immigrant Women

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I'm sure there are many on our list serves that will be able to respond to this request.

Narda

Dear Colleague:

In the summer of 1999, staff at the Immigrant Women Program ofNOW Legal Defense and Education Fund (IWP) created a state-by-statedirectory listing programs in each state that we could identify who providedservices and assistance to immigrant victims of domestic violence. In 2002,IWP received a grant from the Violence Against Women Office of theDepartment of Justice to update this important directory and publish it onthe web so that it can be readily accessible to persons wishing to assistimmigrant victims. Our goal is to compile information about agencies acrossthe country that provide services to immigrant victims of domestic violence,child abuse, sexual assault and trafficking. We will develop a chapter onservices available to serve immigrant victims in each state. Our goal is to identify programs with some experience working withimmigrant victims. Their experience may be offering domestic violence,sexual assault, legal, social services, shelter, housing, employment,immigration, benefits or health care services to immigrant victims.Programs we are trying to identify in each state may be local or nationalorganizations and may serve urban or rural communities, immigrants, refugeesor migrants. The organization may serve immigrants exclusively or may havejust begun to work with immigrant victims in their community. We are hoping to list organizations that have worked on at least two casesthat required working directly with immigrant victims. We are looking forprograms with real life experience working with immigrant victims or on theissues that arise in cases of immigrant victims. It is our view thatprograms providing service to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault,child abuse and trafficking should be open to all victims, citizen andnon-citizen alike, and this is particularly true of any program receivingstate or federal funding to support victim services.[1] However, since weare trying to direct immigrants and service providers to trained assistance,please refrain from including your organization if you are merely "open" toimmigrants. We encourage all programs directly working with immigrantvictims to be listed. If your organization is willing to be listed in the directory, please fillout the attached form. The form seeks information that will be listed inthe directory for your agency, including the language capacities of yourstaff and volunteers and your program through use of interpreters. We arealso requesting information that is for our records and database and willnot be included in the directory. We ask whether your program is a OVWgrantee and whether your agency is or would be interested in joining theNational Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women (National Network). The National Network is a national organization whose members are local,state and national organizations across the country who serve immigrantvictims of violence against women. National Network members are invited toattend the Network's national conferences and receive information andupdates about a variety of issues regarding the legal rights and socialservices available to immigrant victims of violence against women. NationalNetwork members are also invited to join one of the Network's threelist-serves covering either family, benefits or immigration law issues. Thelist serves offer members opportunities to receive technical assistance fromexperts across the country on immigrant women's issues. The Immigrant WomenProgram of NOW Legal Defense also offers technical assistance toprofessionals working with immigrant victims on domestic violence,immigration, family law or public benefits issues that arise in cases ofimmigrant victims. Finally, we are also seeking your assistance identifying other programs inyour state that serve immigrant victims. When you complete the form pleaseattach contact information for other groups we should contact in your stateto be listed in the directory. If you are interested in being listed or having your organization listedin the directory please complete and return the attached form as soon aspossible by e-mail or fax to: Hill Directory of Programs Serving Battered Immigrant Women NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund 1522 K Street, NW Suite 550 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 326-0040 Fax: (202) 589-0511 E-mail: nhill@... Thank you for your assistance. Please direct any questions you may have to Hill.