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

Alcohol Use and Sexual Violence: Tips for Parents to Reduce Harm

By:  Alexis Guzman, Rachel Bring, 
and  Karen Soren  
Columbia University Medical Center

Alcohol consumption can have significant effects on brain function, which can diminish our ability to communicate with and understand others, make us unable to respond to threats in our environment, and can occasionally lead to aggressive behavior. These factors may play a role in the association between alcohol consumption and sexual violence. While researchers continue to investigate the connections between alcohol consumption and sexual behavior, it is important for parents to help guide their children in order to reduce harm as they develop and begin to make their own decisions. 

Click here to read the rest of this blog on tips to help reduce alcohol misuse, the negative consequences it can be associated with, and the risk of suffering from sexual assault.
Join the Effort to Support the Position that Domestic Violence may Qualify for Asylum

Our partners at the Tahirih Justice Center have drafted a letter to the Department of Homeland Security urging them to continue their support for the position that domestic violence and other potential relevant forms of persecution may qualify for asylum. Please consider whether your organization would like to sign onto the letter in support of this advocacy effort. The deadline to sign on is March 30th. 

Copied below is the message from the Tahirih Justice Center:
 
As you know, the Attorney General has certified the case Matter of A-B- to himself and is now reconsidering key elements of asylum law. It appears that the AG may seek to do away with asylum protection for survivors of domestic violence. However, because of the way the question is framed in the certification notice, it is possible that asylum based on persecution such as female genital mutilation/cutting and trafficking, and asylum based on persecution on grounds such as religion and sexual orientation could also be severely limited by this decision.
 
DHS has previously taken the position that domestic violence and other potentially relevant forms of persecution may qualify for asylum. We ask that your organization sign the letter today to help us ensure that DHS files a brief that is consistent with its prior positions. 
Webinar  No MÁS Violencia: 
A Model for an Empowering 
Educational & 
Awareness Tiered  Initiative for Latinas & Providers 
to help address Domestic Violence

Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Time: 11:00am-12:30pm (CST) 

In this webinar, attendees will learn about the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital's empowering educational and awareness tiered initiative for Latinas and providers. The initiative, NO MÁS Violencia, helps address fears/barriers that many Latinas experience when contemplating reporting domestic violence and/or sexual assault, taking into account their immigration status and focusing on reinforcing cultural pride/values. Presenters will share what worked in their community and will provide ideas and information to tailor it for your community.
  
Presenters: 
Elaine Hewins, CSW, DVS, Domestic Violence Education & Awareness Program Coordinator, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - Community Health Promotion Program, Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health System.
 
Mariam Merced, MA, Director, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - Community Health Promotion Program, Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health System.

Click here to register for this webinar.
Webinar  Court Culture and Access to Justice

Monday, April 16, 2018
12:00pm - 1:30pm CST

This webinar will explain the concept of court culture and how do courts have their own culture? What are characteristics of court culture? How can those qualities help or hinder litigants on domestic violence cases, both petitioners and respondents?
Presenters: 
Liberty AldrichJD, Director of Gender Based Violence Programs, Center for Court Innovation
Rosa C. Figarola, Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County
Click here  to register for this webinar
Webinar  Reaching Latino Male Survivors 
of Sexual Violence

Thursday, April 19, 2018
12:00pm - 1:30pm CST

When Latino male survivors of sexual violence make the decision to disclose their abuse or seek support, we want to ensure that rape crisis centers are prepared. This webinar focuses on the key considerations needed to enhance outreach efforts to Latino male survivors of sexual violence. Attendees will be equipped with strategies, messages and resources to support these outreach efforts.

Presenters:

Emiliano C. Diaz de Leon, Men's Engagement Specialist, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)

To register for this webinar click here.

Announcing New National Resource Hub on Sexual Harassment & Violence


Workplaces Respond to Domestic and Sexual Violence: A National Resource Center (Workplaces Respond) educates and builds collaborations among workplace and non-workplace stakeholders - employers, worker associations, unions, and anti-violence advocates - to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual harassment & violence, trafficking, stalking, and exploitation impacting the workplace. 

The project is a public-private partnership led by  Futures Without Violence, and funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's  Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

To visit this new resource click here.
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness offers funding for Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program

Application deadline: April 17, 2018

HUD recently announced a new  Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)  to competitively award $43 million for the second round of the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). These funds will provide up to 11 communities, including at least 5 rural communities, with resources to design and implement a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending homelessness.  Applications for the YHDP are due before midnight eastern time on  April 17, 2018.

Click here for more information about this opportunity and to apply
National Institute of Justice & OVC offers funding opportunity for Programs and Services for Victims of Crime

Application deadline: May 4, 2018

NIJ is seeking applications for rigorous program evaluation of specific services for victims of crime, including housing, legal assistance, and technology-based services.

NIJ is collaborating with the Office for Victims for Crime to support a phased evaluation approach in three areas of victim services:
  1. Technology-based victim services;
  2. Housing and shelter models; and
  3. Legal assistance models for victims of crime.
Click here to review the solicitation.

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application.

Learn how to become an NIJ proposal peer reviewer here.
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 Manager

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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