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Preventing domestic violence With the completion of its year-long study, a
nonprofit group is one step closer to formulating a “community-based
response” to domestic violence in Queens. The organization convened six focus groups, conducted 250 person-on-the-street surveys and interviewed representatives from about 60 community-based organizations, such as health clinics, senior centers and religious groups. Questions were on a number of topics. Participants were asked for their opinions on the criminal justice system's handling of family violence and on the amount of attention given to the problem by government. Subjects were asked if they would intervene if they saw a man hitting his wife and whether or not public education has been effective against child abuse. Data collection was the first phase. Next, the organization plans to share its findings and help build a support network. The third and final phase will be to ensure that this network is readily available and self-sustaining. The initiative, called the Community Empowerment Program, began in 2000 and has focused, so far, on three boroughs. Research also was done in Brooklyn and the Bronx. A May 2004 findings report stated that “knowledge and awareness of domestic violence and child abuse may be relatively high,” in these two boroughs, but “specific and culturally appropriate resources ... were sorely lacking.” People, it said, “do not generally know where women and families can turn for help.” Immigrant families can be reluctant to seek help. Some “come from places where there is war, and they don't trust government-related organizations,” Kumar said. Domestic abuse is a “problem that is coming out more and more, but it is still hidden,” said Reshma Shah, a counselor at the Queens Child Guidance Center's Asian Clinic in Elmhurst. “We have a few cases who walk in and say, 'I'm having a problem,' but most are referred to us by child administrative services, substance abuse centers and hospitals.” The clinic, which provides mental health services, hosted a South Asian focus group. Connect also relied on Hispanic, gay and youth focus groups. “Teens need to be more aware of these issues,” said Jesse Taylor, of the Latin American Integration Center in Woodside, which provided space for the study and worked with Connect to publish a “Teen Relationship Violence” brochure. “Some young people don't even know that they're in abusive relationships,” he said. Kumar, who lives in Astoria, noted recurrent concerns when talking to subjects of the study. “What is clear is that people would appreciate more training and support around these issues,” he said. “Many organizations said they want us to come in and do workshops for staff, community members and clients.” Others called for increased collaboration between service agencies. Social service agencies first addressed family violence in the 1970s, according to the 2004 findings report. Since then, resources for combating the problem have been increasingly allocated to courts and law enforcement. The Community Empowerment Program is centered around what Kumar calls a “community-based and preventative” approach. Founded in 1993, Connect was originally called the Family Violence Project of the Urban Justice Center. The organization assists child welfare agencies in working with abused women and children, provides legal information to victims navigating the courts and runs a training institute for professionals who deal with domestic abuse cases. “We want to engage every member of the community: victims, bystanders and abusers,” Kumar said.
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