A news update from the National Latin@ Network
Table of Contents

Blog
How a Survivor's Race and Economic Circumstances Can Impact their Access to Services

Submitted by: Lisalyn R. Jacobs, Interim Legal & Policy Director, Center for Survivor Agency and Justice 

Fact:  Women of color experience higher rates of domestic violence and sexual assault (DV/SA) than their white counterparts.  Fact:  People of color live in poverty at a rate disproportionate to whites (27% vs. 10%).  Fact:  Poverty has compounding and reciprocal effects on violence.  Fact:  Access to economic resources is critical to the long-term safety of DV/SA survivors. 

Taken together, these facts lead organizations like ours that are committed to ending violence against women to ask the following questions: What are the concrete economic structural barriers facing survivors of color? And, what types of strategies can we as advocates employ to remove these barriers to the creation of economic opportunities necessary for survivors to achieve economic security and physical safety?

Click here to read the rest of this blog by Lisalyn Jacobs
Tell Betsy DeVos to Protect Title IX

Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network would like to share this policy alert from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a member organization of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.  We encourage you to participate in this effort to  contact the U. S. Department of Education and tell them to keep in place Title IX guidance on preventing and addressing sexual harassment and assault in schools and preventing discrimination.


Title IX is essential in ensuring that our schools are free from discrimination and violence.
 
But Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has left the door open for rolling back Title IX. That raises many red flags for AAUW, and we need your help to maintain the progress we have made toward preventing discrimination in our schools.
 
 
When the Department of Education stands up for students, classroom doors stay open. We've seen that in recent years with the Department's release of much needed information for schools on how to follow Title IX. The Department's guidance on preventing and addressing sexual harassment and assault and on protecting transgender students from discrimination have made a difference in the lives of students.
 
Click here for scripts and more information on contacting your representative.
 
National Latin@ Network Contact:
Rosie Hidalgo
Senior Public Policy Director
Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network
[email protected]
Blog Talk Radio Teen Dating Violence: A Closer Look

TODAY
2:30 - 3:00pm EST

Are you able to spot violence in a relationship? Do you know how to support a friend in an unhealthy relationship? To help answer these questions, Casa de Esperanza established Youth Amig@s, a program that engages Latinas in high school, creating a space for these questions to be addressed in a culturally responsive manner. Youth Amig@s' approach is to build capacity beyond just identifying the dynamics of teen dating violence and explore skills and resources needed to combat this problem.

The blog talk radio will explore:
  • The warning signs of an unhealthy relationship
  • The different types of abuse in relationships and how to support a friend that is experiencing an unhealthy relationship
  • Consent and how culture influences this idea
Presenters: Ivette Izea-Martinez, Community Engagement Manager, Nallely Castro Montoya, Youth Initiatives Specialist, Karla T. Ayala, Family- Youth Advocate, Casa de Esperanza: Youth Amig@s.

Webinar Community Lead Innovative Youth Leaders Program

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017
1:00 - 2:30 pm EST

During this webinar, participants will learn about innovative ways in which Enlace Comunitario, a social justice organization led by Latina immigrants whose mission is to eliminate domestic violence in the Latino immigrant community and promote healthy families in Central New Mexico, engages young people to develop their leadership through peer-to-peer learning promoting healthy relationships to prevent teen dating violence.

Presenters: Jose Luis Reyes, Youth Leader, Cynthia Jimenez, Youth Project Coordinator, and Virginia Perez-Ortega, Prevention Co-Director; Enlace Comunitario

Social Media Twitter/Instagram chat for TDVAM

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Central Time
#TeenDVMonth

Theme:
Youth Lead Healthy Relationships 

In observance of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, youth will lead an hour-long Twitter chat about nurturing healthy relationships, advocating for and educating local communities and leaders to address teen dating violence, and incorporating an intersectional framework to addressing teen dating violence.  


Follow @CasaDeEsperanza on Twitter or @casa_de_esperanza on Instagram to join in!

Email Rebecca De Le ón at [email protected] for more information on how to get involved!
 
Deportation shows the impact of Trump's Executive Orders on the Latino community

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation's preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, denounces the deportation of an Arizona mother, Guadalupe García de Rayos, who was deported yesterday for having committed a minor offense nine years ago, despite complying with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials' standards since then. Immigration authorities have not described García de Rayos as a threat to her community or the nation. The deportation of García de Rayos, who has lived in the United States since she was a child, now separates her from her two children, who are U.S. citizens.

Click here to read the rest of this article
Random Acts of Kindness for February
 
"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."
                        -Dalai Lama

Spouses Battered or Subjected to Extreme Cruelty by A, E(3), H or G Visa Holders Are Eligible to Apply for Work Authorization
 
Announcement from NIWAP and Raksha

USCIS is now accepting  employment authorization applications from abused immigrant spouses of H, G, A and E (3) visa holders.

This work authorization will promote greater reporting of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual violence crimes perpetrated against dependent visa holder spouses and children living in visa holder families. Survivors will be able to flee violent homes with their children and work while they pursue avenues available to them to transfer from legal immigration status dependent on their abusers to other forms of legal immigration status that they are eligible to receive.  Most will qualify for U visas based on the battering or extreme cruelty they have suffered.  Others may have the specialized skills and knowledge to qualify for their own work based visas.

Click here for more information from the National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project
Learn About How ICE Conducts Community Arrests and How to Protect Your Rights

Visit immdefense.org for information and resources such as 
  • Know Your Rights with ICE (2-page flyer) in several languages;
  • "Immigration Arrests in the Community: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Rights" (11-page booklet detailing trends in enforcement and your rights)
  • Poster to document a home raid (poster to hang in the home, reminding people of key rights and essential information to document)
IDP has been monitoring and gathering stories on ICE arrests at homes, courthouses, and shelters since April 2013. Their materials educate community members and advocates about how to protect their rights during an ICE arrest. 
 
Click here for more information and resources by the Immigrant Defense Project
Click here for all network news and resources
Tweetchat Training the Next Generation of HIV Providers
 
February 23, 2017
2p.m. EST/1p.m. CST/12p.m. MST/11a.m. PST

The National Hispanic Medical Association will be hosting a Twitter Chat next week as part of their work with the CDC's Partnering and Communicating to Act Against AIDS campaign on February 23rd, and would love it if you would participate or follow along with the conversation. 

They will open the floor to your stories and experiences as we explore:
  • How HIV/AIDS is taught in medical school
  • What channels are used by young doctors for learning health information
  • How to better spread the news of different CDC campaigns to this audience
#NHMAHIV
Host:@NHMAmd
Co-host: @LMSA_National, @DrVSalcedo

Conference  What Works: Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias in the Criminal Justice System's Response to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 

February 27 - March 1, 2017
Jacksonville, Florida

**This conference is open to ALL OVW GRANTEES. There are also a limited number of seats (10) available for the general public.

Join the Battered Women's Justice Project (BWJP) and a group of esteemed national experts in sunny Jacksonville, Florida for a stimulating two and a half day conference. This training will provide law enforcement, prosecutors and advocates the opportunity to connect with peers from around the country to examine and discuss the impact of gender bias on the criminal justice system's response to domestic and sexual violence. Framed by the recent Department of Justice guidance, "Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias in Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence," participants will have the opportunity to identify how gender bias is at work in their own systems and learn ways to address it.

Featured Speakers: 
Russell Strand, Mark Wynn, Hillary Potter, Ph.D., and many other experts
 
Click here for more information and to register
OVC announces three grants to combat human trafficking


Application Deadline: Feb. 27, 2017 
OVC and BJA will award between $600,000 and $900,000 to law enforcement agencies and victim service providers to work collaboratively to enhance multidisciplinary human trafficking task forces that combat sex and labor trafficking of foreign nationals and U.S. citizens of all sexes and ages.  


Application Deadline: Feb. 21, 2017 
OVC will make up to 13 awards of up to $750,000 to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist victims of all forms of human trafficking by enhancing inter-agency collaboration and the coordinated community response to victims of human trafficking, and by providing high-quality services that address the individual needs of trafficking victims.
Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Executive Director

We are seeking an Executive Director for LCADV which is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to oversee all operational aspects of LCADV. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership, direction and administration of the programs and services of the Coalition. The Executive Director has demonstrated proficiency in all aspects of administration and has maintained a high level of performance. The Executive Director serves as an authorized representative for the Coalition in all matters and carries out policies set by the Board of Directors. He/she must possess a Bachelors' degree and 5 years' experience in the field of violence against women or a minimum of 10 years' experience in the field.

This position reports to the LCADV Board of Directors.

Click here for more information on this position
Domestic Abuse Shelter: Shelter Manager 

Location: Key West, Florida

The Domestic Abuse Shelter, a crisis center for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, has an opening for a full-time Shelter Manager. Candidates need to be willing to work a varied schedule that could include nights, weekends, and rotating holidays to ensure coverage of the 24-hour emergency shelter facilities. Responsibilities include the day to day supervision and management of DAS residential facilities.

Qualifications
The Shelter Manager possesses at minimum, a Bachelor's Degree and two years of experience providing direct services for survivors of domestic violence, or high school/equivalency and four years providing direct services for survivors of domestic violence. Two years of successful supervisory experience is preferred. The candidate will have knowledge of the root causes of violence against women and oppressed groups, proven experience training staff, and excellent organizational skills. Those who identify as survivors of violence or abuse are encouraged to apply.

New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers: Culturally Responsive Advocate

Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin

Comfortable with public speaking and providing advocacy, along with developing connections in the La Crosse County community to improve services for African American survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and increase knowledge of services in the community.

Now accepting submissions

We welcome submissions on a number of topics pertaining to domestic violence, family violence, and gender-based violence. These topics include, but are not limited to:
  • Gender-based violence intervention and prevention programs that are culturally specific
  • Working with Latin@ youth
  • Working with immigrant Latin@s
  • Health care and gender-based violence
  • LGBTQ Latin@ communities
  • Children and domestic violence
  • Building Latin@ leadership in Latin@ communities
  • Elder abuse
We also welcome photography, video, resources, and other digital material that organizations or people wish to share with our network.

If you're interested in submitting a blog post,  click here to email Rebecca De Leon, Communications and Marketing Coordinator

ABOUT THE NATIONAL LATIN@ NETWORK FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

The National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities is a network of individuals and organizations committed to improving the health and well-being of Latin@ communities. The National Latin@ Network is led by Casa de Esperanza, a national Latina organization whose mission is to mobilize Latinas and Latin@ communities to end domestic violence. The National Latin@Network for Healthy Families and Communities builds on Casa de Esperanza´s experience working in local communities to support families, end domestic violence, and increase meaningful access to services for Latina@s and incorporates a research center, public policy initiative, and training.

National Latin@ Network | http://www.nationallatinonetwork.org | 651.646.5553


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