ASHA in the news: Report calls for better access to services for domestic abuse victims

July 22, 2009– A new report on South Asians living in Washington, D.C. states that despite organizations like ASHA for Women “too many” domestic violence victims and survivors are still unable to access legal and social services because of lack of awareness, immigration concerns, and linguistic and cultural barriers.

“D.C. area domestic violence prevention and support organizations, such as Asian/Pacific Islanders Domestic Violence resource Project (DVRP) and Asian Women’s Self Help Association (ASHA [for Women]), point to an increase in South Asian women seeking their services. DVRP and ASHA are not only  raising awareness in the Asian Pacific Islander community about the problems of domestic violence in metropolitan Washington, D.C.,  but are also providing access to culturally and linguistically responsive resources.

Despite our services and outreach services, D.C. government agencies and mainstream social service providers and shelters need to work more closely with Asian and South Asian organization to expand the services and options available to domestic violence victims and survivors, the report recommends

The report also states the District agencies enhance mental health services to South Asians, especially those that are “newly arrived immigrants and survivors of domestic violence and trauma.” While organization like ASHA partner Counselors Helping (South) Asian Indians or CHAI have been filling this void, South Asians often find it difficult to obtain necessary mental health information that is linguistically and culturally sensitive, the report adds.

If you or anyone you know needs to talk to someone about domestic abuse, please call ASHA for Women’s 24-hour, toll-free helpline: 1-888-417-2742.

For media or organization inquiries, please e-mail us at coordinator@ashaforwomen.org.

Washington DeSi: South Asians in the Nation’s Capital, released this week by ASHA partner’s South Asian Americans Leading Together and Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center, calls gender-based violence a “silent, but important concern” within the South Asian community, and notes View Page that organizations like ASHA are reporting an increase in the women seeking our services.