Free and confidential helpline
ASHA’s free and confidential Helpline receives calls from abused women and from their friends, relatives, colleagues, seeking advice and assistance. The Client Services Coordinator studies the case and pairs the client with a volunteer advocate who is most suitable culturally and in experience.
Volunteer advocate support
The volunteer advocate provides on-going emotional support, and stays by the side of the client through many challengingsituations, accompanying her to court, shelter, government offices, doctors’ appointments,hospitals and so on, if necessary.
Connecting to resources
Depending on the needs of the client, ASHA provides information about currently available community resources, and assistsin accessing them. The advocate helps the client negotiate public healthcare and legal services,and guides to resources available for shelter, education, life skills training, basic needs.
Career counseling and employment advice
In-house career counselor identifies the quickest path to real, affordable training and certification, helps with resume, interview training, and while identifying job opportunities for clients, develops partnerships with local businesses and institutions for their employment.
Community outreach
ASHA discusses the causes and effects of family violence at various public forums and events and provides awareness about existing services, resources, systems, and laws in the United States designed to assist and protect victims. ASHA collaborates with non-profits like SAALT and CHAI to hold community dialogs.
Educating service providers
ASHA helps domestic violence and other social service agencies become aware of the specific needs of battered South Asian women and children and the cultural context of violence in South Asian homes.
Building alliances
ASHA actively pursues cooperative working alliances with other domestic violence social service agencies like Fairfax and Montgomery County Family Services departments and other professional groups, especially those serving immigrant and refugee families.