The name of the program is Mulierum spes sanationis et restitutionem. This is Latin for the Women’s shelter for healing and restoration. It will be offering assistance to Latinas who are or have been victims of domestic violence.
Analysis of the problem
Domestic violence against Latinas is rife within the Latino community. Latinas are subjected to such violence by their male counterparts, whether spouses or close relations, almost on a daily basis (Rivera, 1994). The level and extent of occurrence has precipitated treatment of such violence as a normal way of life, or a Latino culture. Accordingly, it has rarely been discussed as a problem within and without the Latino community. Within the community, Latinas have accepted it as a way of life, and they treat such violence as an inherent culture of men. This attitude transcends to the outside of the community, with non Latinos treating it as Latino culture and the specific incidences of violence as private matters.
The treatment of domestic violence as a culture of the Latinos has greatly contributed to the occurrence of such violence. Not only do the Latinas as victims treat it as acceptable, but also the male counterparts believe that it is okay for a man to be violent. Authorities too do not view it as a legal problem, but rather a community issue. This is indeed a very strong force.
Another factor that contributes to domestic violence is the lack of support services for victims. Since it is not treated as a problem there are no support services within and outside the community. Victims thus suffer in silence, and the perpetrators are not held accountable for their actions. Even where there are support services, the same are not adequately equipped to address the problem, especially in terms of personnel. Without sufficient bilingual personnel who not only speak the language, but also understand the Latino culture, it is onerous for the victim to get any assistance. This is a somewhat strong force.
On the other hand however, a positive factor is that there is increased sensitization about the issue, within and outside the Latino community. The sensitization is meant to do away with the attitude towards the problem, and the stereotypes fanning it. Many Latinas are speaking out about their ordeals, and activists and scholars are speaking against it, which will force not only the community but also the authorities to do something about it. This is a very strong force, and will most likely overwhelm the negative factors.
Another positive factor is that there have been efforts to set up support services for the victims. These efforts are largely by community based organizations that recognize that it is not enough to speak against the issue, but it is also good to do something about it. Through these services victims have been helped, and have in turn helped other victims. This is somewhat a strong force.
Goals and objectives of the program
The program targets Latinas of all ages, from low income areas who have been or are victims of domestic violence. The primary goal of the program is to provide psychological, emotional, legal, and social assistance to the victims of domestic violence, to enable them shatter the cycle of violence. Accordingly, the primary target will be the victim, and how to facilitate their healing and reintegration in the society.
The program will also seek to sensitize the community on the issue of domestic violence, and recruit volunteers to fight against the problem. It will also seek to sensitize, and where possible train the authorities, especially law enforcement and judicial authorities on how best to handle victims of domestic violence. In this regard the program will foster cooperation with the Attorney General’s office, the department of justice, department of family and support services, and other community based organizations fighting the vice. Finally, the program will endeavor to hold meetings with all stakeholders to evaluate the efforts put in place to eradicate the problem.
Strategies
The first strategy is to sensitize the community about the program, the services offered, and how to contact or reach the program. This is ideally to notify the community, and by extension any victim, of where to seek help. Secondly, partner with social services and the law enforcement agencies to volunteer assistance to victims of domestic violence in cases where they are alerted. Thirdly, send representatives of the program to the agencies stated in the goals and objectives. Fourthly, partner with other community organizations, schools, and churches to over assistance to members who are victims. Finally, train the victims who have successfully gone through the program to offer assistance to other victims, and refer them to the program where necessary.
Target dates and priorities
The community should be made aware of the program within a month of its being set up. Recruitment and training of community volunteers will be within 2 to 3 months after set up. Training of personnel in other agencies will be within six months, whereas training of the victims will be after they have gone through the program.
Resources
The key resource of the program will be the personnel, i.e. the skilled and the volunteers. The skilled personnel will handle technical matters such as counseling, offering legal assistance, keeping and maintaining books of accounts and records. The volunteers will handle the less technical jobs such as distributing flyers, making flyers, banners and brochures, cleaning at the facility and related tasks. The program will also require personnel from government agencies to be attached or seconded to it such as social workers and police officers. The social workers will assist in directing victims to the program, and also accompanying the program workers to places where it is suspected there is a victim. The police officer will provide protection, especially in cases of extreme violence.
Evaluation
The primary evaluation point will be the number of victims who have successfully gone through the program within a year, and the impact they have had in the community. Another evaluation point will be the number of reported cases of domestic violence within the community one year after the inception of the program. If the number has reduced then the program is working, if not, the strategies will be reevaluated. Additionally, even with the decline in the cases reported, the strategies will be evaluated to ascertain what more can be done to further reduce the number.
References
Rivera, J. (1994). Domestic Violence Against Latinas by Latino Males: An Analysis of Race,
National Origin, and Gender Differences. B.C. Third World L. J., 14, 2, 231 - 261
