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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORGANIZATIONS.... |
The following excerpt regarding domestic violence organizations was taken from the Introduction of Change From Within: Diverse Perspectives on Domestic Violence in Muslim Communities.
Gradually, as Muslim communities and organizations across the country face the realities of domestic violence, they are beginning to establish a variety of services, such as shelters and culturally appropriate alternatives to mainstream social services. For Muslim advocates, the development of culturally appropriate services for Muslims experiencing abuse has been eased by the existence of ethnic-based domestic violence organizations.
In response to the lack of culturally appropriate services for ethnic minorities, various ethnic-based organizations, focusing on African, Arab, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latino, and Native American communities have been established during the last couple of decades, predominantly in major urban areas in the United States. Ethnic-based domestic violence organizations have significantly contributed to services for abused minorities, particularly women, and in many ways, have helped to pave the way for the establishment of Muslim domestic violence organizations and services. Ethnic-based domestic violence programs and shelters serve significant numbers of Muslims. Though domestic violence services may be ethnically or religiously categorized, the types of abuse experienced, and the services and advocacy required by Muslim individuals and families, may cut across ethnic and religious categories.
In the last ten to fifteen years, dozens of Muslim domestic violence organizations based in the United States have been established. Many of these Muslim domestic violence programs provide interpretation, legal advice or referrals to legal resources, crisis intervention, financial assistance, individual and family counseling, premarital counseling, imam counseling, support groups, and job placement. A few programs have shelters. Many provide advocacy programs in which Muslim community members and leaders can raise their awareness regarding domestic violence, and can educate themselves on their Islamic and legal rights. Muslim domestic violence social service advocates also provide expertise and trainings for governmental and mainstream organizations to sensitize them towards the needs of Muslims, as well as provide comprehensive assistance to families affected by domestic violence.
In some of these organizations, there is an informal system of cross-referral between local imams, Muslim therapists, and other service providers. Although far from being able to meet all of the needs of the Muslim families impacted by domestic violence, cross-referral and collaboration provide a preliminary working model on which to build broader services. We believe that significant factors in the success of this cross-referral system are: the respect that each advocate has for the other's role; the recognition that domestic violence is a serious social and moral issue among Muslims; and the willingness to address the issue from both a spiritual and social perspective. |
