COORDINATING SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND IMMIGRATION: WHAT COUNTY WELFARE DEPARTMENTS NEED TO KNOW

COORDINATING SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND IMMIGRATION: WHAT COUNTY WELFARE DEPARTMENTS NEED TO KNOW

Presented by: A Community for Peace Legal Services of Northern California My Sister s House

UNDERSTANDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE / TRAUMA & IMPACT Trauma Occurs Risky Behavior Coping Strategies are born (disassociation, isolation, depression, anger, substance use, lying, minimizing, prettying it, etc.) Coping strategies without healing can become personality traits If trauma persists

BUILDING TRUST & TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH TO WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS IMPACTED BY DV. Victims/survivors often are living in daily fear, doubt, worry, threat, isolation, control and suffering. For many it does not ease up.ever! Systems that are designed to help people are often are also barriers to a survivor.

Lead with compassion, openness and listen. Help the survivor feel that they matter and are understood. Avoid judging or victim blaming. Help be a bridge between what is expected in the regulations and what the customer is really able to do. Create an environment where the truth can be told.

BROADEN PERSPECTIVES. SEE FROM THE CONTEXT OF THEIR LIFE. Living in a world of domestic violence often means a full lack of control of ones own ability to come and go freely, answer questions truthfully, seek help, comply with regulations when receiving services, hold down a job or home, recall information accurately.

Examples of where within the scope of CalWORKs cases a staff member may find signs of DV: EBT card requests Homelessness/whereabouts unknown Size of Family Father(s) unknown Welfare-to-work sanctions/non-compliance Case status changing frequently

RESOURCES AS PART OF YOUR TOOLBOX. You are not alone. Sacramento County has 3 certified DV/SA providers that you can refer your customer to. A Community For Peace- 24 hour crisis line 728-7210 or office 728-5613 My Sister s House- help line 428-3271 WEAVE- support & info line 920-2952 or counseling center 448-2321

14 Core Services available with each DV agency: 24 hour Crisis Line Individual Counseling Children s Individual and Group Counseling Emergency Shelter Emergency Food, Clothing Social Services partnerships Business Center Response to Law Enforcement calls Community Collaborative/Partnerships Referrals from Hospital Emergency Room, etc. Household Assistance DV Peer Education Group Transportation Legal Services

1. COMMON LEGAL ISSUES FACED BY DV SURVIVORS

2. STATE AND FEDERAL LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR DV SURVIVORS

3. UNDERSTANDING CALWORKS RULES THAT PROTECT AND ASSIST DV SURVIVORS

4. HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Make sure there is 2-way communication: a. Ask the client which language she prefers to speak. b. Obtain an interpreter if s/he needs one. c. Check to see if they truly understand the questions, i.e. are they really saying yes or no.

2. Be respectful in your manner and body language.

3. Check the assumptions you are making regarding the client s appearance, beliefs, customs or even identity.

4. Understand that in some communities, efforts to seek assistance may bring shame and disgrace to the individual or entire family.

5. Explain to the client the importance of making copies of all important documents (like birth certificates, passport, and immigration paper) and keeping them in a safe place.

6. Beware that some non-citizens may come from countries or situations where there they had few or no rights.

7. If you work for government agency and community based organization, tell the victim you are there to help her/him.

8.Be mindful that victims of crime who are noncitizens may be unfamiliar with the systems and resources available to them in this country.

9. Help your client access any other services s/he may need, including shelter, social services, and protection through civil and or criminal legal systems.

10. Be mindful that you are dealing with an individual who has suffered profound violence and s/he may not have the vocabulary to communicate what s/he have experienced.

California domestic violence resources: www.cpedv.org 916-444-7163

RESOURCES for DV victims: 1. 24/7 Crisis Line 2. Shelter 3. Legal Services 4. Counseling 5. Food 6. Clothing 7. Financial Support 8. Job Training 9. Transportation 10.Health Referrals 11.Referrals to other social service orgs 12.Child care

CONTACT INFORMATION Laura Clegg A Community for Peace Deputy Director laura@communityforpeace.org Sarah Ropelato Legal Services Northern California Managing Attorney sropelato@lsnc.net Rejie Baloyos My Sister s House Employment & Immigration Program Manager BIA Accredited Representative rejsmsh@gmail.com Nilda Valmores My Sister s House Executive Director nildamsh@gmail.com

LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFICE PHONE: (916) 551-2150 EMAIL:SROPELATO@LSNC.NET My Sister s House Office Phone: (916) 930-0626 Email: info@my-sisters-house.org 24/7 Help Line (916) 428-3271 A Community for Peace Office Phone: (916) 930-0626 24 hour crisis line 728-7210 or office 728-5613 Email: laura@communityforpeace.org