Intimate Partner Violence in Immigrant and Refugee Communities: Challenges, Promising Practices, and Recommendations

Date

2009

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Futures Without Violence

Abstract

This document describes intimate partner violence (IPV) in immigrant and refugee communities in the United States. IPV is a widespread, costly, and complex social problem nationwide, with serious health and safety implications. When IPV occurs in immigrant and refugee communities, additional challenges and complexities make it especially difficult to address. This paper examines the issue from a variety of standpoints, including the legal rights and practical challenges facing immigrant and refugee victims of violence, the ways systems are responding, and the promising practices that offer hope for these women, many of whom would otherwise remain in grave and persistent peril. This report contains four main sections: Background information, including a definition of IPV, data about the incidence of this problem in general and among refugees and immigrants, and discussion of special dynamics in refugee and immigrant communities; an overview of the needs and challenges of immigrant and refugee IPV victims and service providers as well as brief case studies of practices that draw on interviews in 2007 with leaders and staff of seven programs across the United States; recommendations for funders, service providers and policy-makers; a discussion of IPV research and evaluation issues that need to be addressed in refugee and immigrant communities. (Author text)

Description

Report

Keywords

Synthesis, Foreign Born, English as a Second Language, Underserved Populations, Domestic Violence, Spouse Abuse, Battering, Victim Rights, Violence Against Women, Accessibility Services, Translation Services

Citation

Runner, Michael; Yoshihama, Mieko; Novick, Steve. (2009). Intimate Partner Violence in Immigrant and Refugee Communities: Challenges, Promising Practices, and Recommendations. Family Violence Prevention Fund, 66 pgs.

DOI