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

Blog
Meet the Team: Leo Martinez

Leo is our new Project Coordinator. He coordinates and provides training and technical assistance for the Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Initiative and the Limited English Proficiency project.

Where are you from?
I'm originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina and I've lived in Atlanta, Georgia for almost 20 years now.

Where do you feel most at home?
I believe that's a tricky question for anyone who is a first generation immigrant who has had as many years of acculturation as I have. I feel at home in Atlanta, GA and I feel at home when I visit Buenos Aires. I have strong ties to both countries but I feel at home whenever I feel a sense of community. That could happen, for example, working in the community here in Atlanta or reconnecting with my former students in Buenos Aires like I did in my last trip. I feel enriched by the experiences I've had because of being bicultural.

  Click here to get to know Leo!
NLN News
Human Trafficking Awareness Month wraps up

As January wraps up Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the National Latin@ Network's research team presents the findings from our study of a variety of organizations across the country and how they address the needs of human trafficking survivors in their communities. 


 
Nearly 900 religious, civil rights, ethnic and immigrant rights organizations who work on behalf of immigrants and their families are urging President Trump to protect the more than 740,000 individuals who currently hold Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA.

There has historically been bipartisan support for protection from deportation for the population that benefits under DACA. 

Besides enabling them to increasingly contribute to the economy, DACA has made it easier for immigrants to attend college and to join the military. However, DACA remains limited in that it offers no pathway to permanent legal immigration status or citizenship.

American Immigration Council offers resources for immigrants in response to executive orders
 
NHLA Condemns Executive Actions Calling for Border Wall and Punishing Localities and States Committed to Protecting Immigrant Communities
 
Recently, the president announced two executive orders related to immigration. NHLA strongly condemns the actions, and calls on the White House to reconsider its current policies. 

Included in these actions is a directive to build a physical border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Any response to our nation's broken immigration system that includes a costly effort to build an ineffective border wall, in addition to what currently exists, is incredibly misguided and shows a failure to appreciate the current situation on the southern border. 

In addition, the executive order "Enhancing Public Safety In the Interior of the United States," includes directives to target the funding of states and localities that have community trust policies in place, or so-called "sanctuary cities," that limit interaction between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials, as well as continuing the flawed Secure Communities program. 

Click here to read this statement
NALAC Leadership Institute announces dates
 
July 10-15, 2017
San Antonio, Texas

The NALAC Leadership Institute (NLI) is a week-long rigorous program in arts management and leadership development that delivers innovative and practical strategies that lead to successful business practices in the arts. The dynamic learning environment cultivates a familiar, inclusive cultural space that provides multiple generations of Latino artists, arts managers and cultural promoters the support, knowledge, and agency to confidently respond to and initiate solutions to complex cultural questions.
 
The goals of the Institute are to:
  • develop core capacities in the areas of arts management, networking, marketing, fund development;
  • deliver training via interactive group learning, consultations, and leadership simulations;
  • advance knowledge in the field of Latino artistic expressions, research and policy;
  • contextualize the frameworks that inform and affect Latino cultural production;
  • strengthen and expand the NALAC professional network;
  • promote awareness for planned organizational legacy and artistic/executive succession;
  • provide effective tools and research that optimize leadership competence; and,
  • prepare creative, strategic and nimble cultural leaders.
Applicants to the NLI are accepted from multiple generations of Latino artists, arts managers and cultural promoters in various stages of career development.  A group of 15-25 participants will be selected to attend the NLI in San Antonio, TX.

Click here for all network news and resources
Blog Talk Radio - Teen Dating Violence: A Closer Look

Thursday, February 16, 2017
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 - DECIMOS NO M ÁS:  Helping Latin@ parents navigate conversations with their children about relationships and sexuality

Thursday, February 16, 2017
1:00 - 2:00 pm EST

The NO MÁS campaign, a sister campaign of NO MORE, was developed in 2015 using original research and input from Latin@ youth and parents about the realities of sexual assault and domestic violence in their communities. This webinar will present the research findings as well as offer an introduction of the resulting NO MÁS website and materials, which aim to act as a guide for parents who want to have in-depth and meaningful conversations with their children. The materials on the campaign focus on promoting healthy communication, healthy relationships, and healthy sexuality, but the tools and strategies from the campaign can help parent's foster stronger relationships with their children.

In this webinar participants will learn:
  • Findings from the national NO MAS research around attitudes and beliefs about domestic and sexual violence in the Latin@ community
  • What NO MÁS adds to the larger conversation about the effort to end domestic violence and sexual assault
  • How to use the tools and materials the NO MÁS website offers to facilitate meaningful conversations among family members about healthy sexuality and healthy relationships
Presenters: Pierre R. Berastaín, Assistant Director of Innovation & Engagement, and Rebecca De León,  Communications & Marketing Coordinator; Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network

 
Click here to register for this webinar
Webinar - Community Lead Innovative Youth Leaders Program

Wedensday, February 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.

Objectives:
  • Engage in a discussion about the opportunities and challenges of engaging Latino young people in shaping Teen Dating Violence prevention strategies and solutions.
  • Share examples of the work being done by Enlace Comunitario's prevention team with a focus on the work with Latino youth leaders.
  • Identify tools and resources to better support and build infrastructure for authentic youth engagement in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
Presenters: Jose Luis Reyes, Youth Leader, Cynthia Jimenez, Youth Project Coordinator, and Virginia Perez-Ortega, Prevention Co-Director; Enlace Comunitario

OVW announces Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program solicitation for FY 2017

Register by: Jan. 26, 2017
Applications due: Feb. 16, 2017

Eligible applicants are limited to: Private nonprofit entities, publicly funded organizations not acting in a governmental capacity, territorial organizations, Indian tribal governments, tribal organizations, and Indian tribal consortia. 
Funding may be used to provide direct legal services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. OVW's Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program seeks to develop innovative, collaborative projects that provide quality representation to victims. 
OVW will hold a pre-application information session for interested parties. See the solicitation for details. 

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.

 
Application Deadline: Feb. 13, 2017 
OVC will make up to two awards of up to $1.5 million each for states or tribes to develop, enhance, and coordinate programs and activities geared toward improving outcomes for child and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking. 
Family Violence Appellate Project: Law clerks

FVAP is seeking law clerks to help with its appellate programs for the summer and fall. Duties may include:
  • Assisting with an active pipeline of case referrals, including conducting client intake interviews and completing an initial case analysis, which involves analyzing the trial court record and the legal issues in the case and making a preliminary recommendation on whether FVAP should accept the case for appeal;
  • Conducting legal research and writing;
  • Assisting FVAP's pro bono attorneys in private practice with appeals and amicus curiae briefs;
  • Analyzing social science literature in the field of domestic violence; and
  • Assisting with some administrative tasks as needed
The Family Place: Various

Location: Dallas, TX

Bilingual Case Manager II
Master's Degree in social work, psychology, behavioral sciences, humanities or related field and 1-2 years of experience working with clients who are victims of domestic violence. Experience working in a social services environment speaking and working with victims who are Spanish speaking. Bilingual Spanish/English required.
 
Bilingual Children's Counselor III
Master's Degree in Counseling or Social Work and at least 3 years of experience working in a clinical setting with victims of domestic violence. Certifications: LCSW or LPC. LPC-Intern and LMSW's who have accomplished significant work towards clinical licensure will be considered. Bilingual Spanish/English required. 
 
Children's Program Coordinator and Counselor
Licensure in Social Work or Counseling and 4 years of clinical experience working with children who are victims or witnesses of domestic/family violence; experience in assessment, TF-CBT and play therapy required. Licenses and Certifications: LPC or LCSW Required. Bilingual Spanish/English required. 
 
Part-time Domestic Violence Victim Advocate
Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Counseling or Social Services (Master's Degree preferred) and at least 3-5 years experience in an advocate role. Bilingual (English/Spanish) required. 
 
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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