Intimate partner violence in the undocumented immigrant Latino community in Ventura County

The United States Latino population is 16%, and of this percentage, Latino victims make up 20.7% of all fatalities due to male-to-female interpersonal violence (MFIPV) (Thomas, Joshi, Wittenberg & McCloskey, 2008). This research explores intimate partner violence (IPV) in the Latino community, as well as the undocumented immigrant Latino community, and whether appropriate services are available in Ventura County. Four possible triggers of intimate partner violence will also be addressed. The triggers include culture, specifically related to gender and machismo; acculturation; socio-economic status; and intergenerational violence. Family Systems Theory (FST) will also be utilized in explaining the acceptance of intimate partner violence throughout generations. Findings suggest that some agencies may be culturally sensitive to their client's needs, are easily accessible by public transportation, and offer a sliding fee scale. However, the cost of public transportation and services may still bear a financial hardship to the clients