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

Blog
Empowering Communities y Tomando Acción: Putting the Work to End Violence in the Hands of Emerging Leaders

Our  annual youth-led conference provides participants with a fun-filled, one-day summit of discussions and activities that enhance their awareness about topics that affect many of today's youth, while providing attendees with access to resources and introducing them to various ways to practice self care.

Each year, the Youth Amig@s group at Casa de Esperanza organize and carry out this conference. These young men and women have refined their leadership skills by completing our youth leadership training, where they lead workshops and discussions with their peers about healthy relationships.

Click here  to learn more about how we work with youth for this conference
Beware of ICE scammers across the country

Being Approached by Fake ICE Agents: Official Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will never ask you for money or threaten detainment or deportation if you do not pay them. ICE agents also do not have the authority to enter your household without a warrant signed by a judge.

Unsolicited Calls From Fake Officials: One of the most common immigration services scams are unsolicited calls or text messages from someone claiming to be a government official or law enforcement officer that make threats such as deportation. Often times the number on caller ID may look like a legitimate government number. The  United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will never request payment over the phone, so immigrants should be wary of scammers that ask for any sensitive or personal information, demand payment and threaten deportation if you do not comply.

Notario Fraud: In many Latin American countries a "notario" refers to someone who has the authority to render legal services. Unscrupulous "notaries" who are not attorneys often rely on this misunderstanding to exploit immigrants. They charge immigrants excessive application fees without ever submitting applications to the immigration authorities or may induce deportation by submitting applications for relief for which the immigrant is not eligible for or did not request.

Misrepresenting Legal Credentials: Individuals may falsely claim to be attorneys or wrongly suggest that they are able to appear before the immigration agencies or court. They take advantage of immigrants who will unknowingly pay exorbitant fees for their services. By misrepresenting their qualifications, these individuals can have a detrimental impact on the immigrants with whom they work. For example, immigrants who take advice from and work with these individuals may waive their right to obtain legal residency, be unnecessarily deported, or become subject to civil and/or criminal liability for the filing of false claims.
Fraudulent Promises to Expedite Process: This type of fraud concerns individuals who contend that they know employees at immigration offices who can expedite the processing of their clients applications. Accordingly, they request high fees for this special service, but fail to provide it.
 
Misinformation Fraud: Under this type of fraud, a provider will typically provide inaccurate or false information to the immigrant concerning his or her eligibility for an adjustment of status under a particular law. In these cases, the immigrant is usually not aware that they have been a victim of fraud until they receive a letter of ineligibility from immigration authorities. The provider knows the immigrant is not entitled to relief, or ineligible, but will file the application with immigration authorities regardless.
 
Immigration Affinity Fraud: Some providers target immigrants belonging to their same ethnic or racial group. Accordingly, they seek to gain advantage over other providers by claiming to identify with the ethnic, racial, national origin or community-based affiliations of the immigrant group.
 
Unauthorized Practice of the Law: Individuals may not be licensed to practice law but present themselves as attorneys or immigration law experts capable of providing legal advice and services.

Tips to avoid getting scammed:
  • ICE agents will not threaten detainment or deportation if you don't pay them
  • Only work with a licensed lawyer or an authorized provider
  • Never sign blank applications or documents you do not understand
  • Do not make payments over the phone or via email
March is National Women's History Month

This year's theme: Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business

The 2017 theme for National Women's History Month honors women who have successfully challenged the role of women in both business and the paid labor force. Women have always worked, but often their work has been undervalued and unpaid.

The 2017 Honorees represent many diverse backgrounds and each made her mark in a different field. Additionally, the Honorees' work and influence spans three centuries of America's history. These women all successfully challenged the social and legal structures that have kept women's labor underappreciated and underpaid.

Click here for more information from the National Women's History Project
Cultural Competency in the Courts Training Registration Open

May 31- June 2, 2017
Portland, OR

Cultural Competency in the Courts Training is an interactive training for court staff that explores culture and court responses to culturally specific domestic violence and sexual assault victims. 

Who is invited to attend? 
  • Justice for Families, Court Training and Improvements Programs (CTIP), STOP grantees and their OVW grant partners can participate and use their OVW travel funds to send grant funded staff and partners to this training, with prior approval from their OVW Program Manager. 
  • Participants are strongly encouraged to bring a team of 2 to 4 court staff that works with DV/SA cases including but not limited to Judge, court clerk, security, court advocates and DV prosecutors unit. 
  • Registration is limited to 40 participants!
Click here to register or click here for more information
Thursday, March 30, 2017
12pm - 1:30pm Central

This presentation will discuss the results of an in-depth, qualitative study of 15 Latina U Visa recipients who are survivors of intimate partner violence, and five service providers. 

The aim of this study of was to better understand the experience of Latinas who have their U Visa and have been victims of domestic violence. While obtaining legal documentation is critical to becoming economically self-sufficient, a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges that women might face will provide researchers and social service providers with the necessary evidence to design effective public health interventions to meet the needs of women as they move towards emotional, social and economic stability.

Presenters:  
Shireen Rajaram, Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center; 
Maria Mendoza, Justice for Our Neighbors - Nebraska

Click here to register for this webinar.
Preparing for Sexual Assault Awareness Month with NSVRC
 
This year, NSVRC is focusing on raising our voices together. Preventing a serious and widespread epidemic like sexual assault can feel daunting - even impossible at times.

This is why the theme of this year's  Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign, coordinated by the  National Sexual Violence Resource Center, is "Engaging New Voices." This theme provides an exciting opportunity to broaden our reach and engage the greater community in prevention efforts.

Click here for resources and toolkits to use during SAAM.
#LoveWITHAccountability podcast discusses abuse, spirituality
 
 
This podcast, titled The Spin, is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, and TheSpin1 channel. 

Part II of the #LoveWITHAccountability special is a rich, multilayered and moving conversation about c hild sexual abuse, family, faith, forgiveness and the script of silence with  Esther Armah and guests Luz Marquez Benbow  and   Dr. Thema Bryant Davis.

Click here for the #LoveWITHAccountability forum
Call for Papers: Participatory Research on Gender-Based Violence

We invite submissions for a special issue in the Journal of Family Violence exploring community-based, participatory research and evaluation approaches implemented within the gender-based violence field.

The projected publication date for this issue is summer/fall 2018. Please review the call for papers before considering submitting your work. 

Also, feel free to distribute to your networks. If you have any questions, please email   [email protected].
Click here for all network news and resources
 
This collection includes select resources that detail the history of the reproductive justice movement, provide comprehensive information on reproductive justice and social change, and lift up the work of organizations that are advancing a reproductive justice agenda. Also included are resources on the intersection of domestic and sexual violence and reproductive justice, and information on federal and state policies surrounding the issue.

Click here for these resources
Ayuda DC: Language Access Coordinator

Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing direct legal, social and language services; education; and outreach to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. 

We are seeking a coordinator to offer support to our Language Access Program in our DC office. The coordinator will play a vital role in ensuring that limited English proficient and Deaf residents of the Washington metro area have access to interpretation and translation when working with legal service providers to assert their rights and when working with social service providers after being victim to a crime. The Language Access Program provides these necessary services through the Community Legal Interpreter Bank and the Victim Services Interpreter Bank. This position reports to the Language Access Manager.

Domestic Abuse Intervention Services: Director of Finance

The Director of Finance ensures organizational effectiveness by providing leadership for the organization's financial and business functions, serving as a strategic, hands-on and participative leader to support finance, business planning and budgeting. The Director of Finance coordinates these functions with other facets of the organization, including the development of fiscal policies and efficient work procedures and processes. The Director of Finance also provides strategic analysis and advice to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors, and ensures ample security for materials, assets and information. This position manages audits, directs the annual budget process, ensures compliance with applicable contract and regulatory reporting requirements, manages fiscal transactions, tracks and manages cash flow, ensures the timely completion of financial reporting, analyzes and interprets statistical and accounting information, and forecasts fiscal position to management and Board of Directors Finance Committee.

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


jmml_grey_btn.gif