Preventative intimate partner violence program for Latina immigrants: a culturally sensitive approach

Includes bibliographical references (pages 57-64)Latina immigrants living in the United States suffer disproportionately from the effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) in all of its forms. With Latinos being the largest minority group in the nation, a large need has arisen for preventative programs to help identify risk factors and unique challenges facing Latinas in their struggle to end intergeneration patterns of IPV. Although many programs exist to assist survivors of IPV, there still remains a need to develop culturally competent services to meet the unique challenges of the Latino community. The purpose of this project is first to create a more complete picture of the Latina experience of IPV by exposing and demystifying the unique belief systems, values, norms, and aspects of Latino culture which make Latinas more susceptible to IPV as well as recognizing those vital cultural principles which may help prevent violence in future generations. Secondly, this project provides cross-culturally appropriate materials in the form of an informational guidebook containing suggestions for creating an atmosphere of advocacy and support as well as a step-by-step guide to working with Latinas based on an ecological perspective and Yalom???s group therapy principles through a preventative lens. These materials are intended to aid mental health professionals in creating preventative IPV programs for Latinas in their own communities as well as overall increasing awareness, advocacy, and support for multicultural women living with IPV