Tina U. Hancock

A Culturally Sensitive Intervention with Domestically Violent Latino Immigrant Men

In an agency that provided court ordered domestic violence treatment, practitioners observed that recently arrived Latino immigrant men failed to respond to the Duluth model. This observation led to implementation of a culturally sensitive intervention that took into consideration Latino cultural values and environmental stressors on immigrant families. Healing themes were selected that required the men to confront personal trauma and negative acculturation experiences and connect these to conflict and partner abuse. The approach was designed to help the men stop the abuse, preserve partner relationships, and strengthen family life. The goal was not to equalize power between male and female partners, but to help the men gain the attitudes and relationship skills needed for respectful and compassionate family leadership.

Sin Papeles Undocumented Mexicanas in the Rural United States

Drawing on structural and life-cycle perspectives and a limited body of literature, this article explores the obstacle of illegal status to expanding views of self, the more equitable gender roles in marriage, and the mothering responsibilities for young working-class women from rural Mexico who have settled in rural communities and small towns in the United States. Strengths related to the Mexican culture and risks and opportunities accompanying migration in young adulthood are examined within this framework.

What Would They Do? Latino Church Leaders and Domestic Violence:

Understanding what Latino church leaders believe about domestic violence, and what they do when they confront it, is a key step in developing programs to help them engage in domestic violence prevention and intervention activities in their congregations. This article presents the findings from an exploratory study of 28 Latino church leaders. The study surveyed respondents’ beliefs about domestic violence and asked for their reactions to three domestic violence vignettes they might encounter. We found that study participants were willing to respond to cases of domestic violence in what we would define as constructive ways. However, some responses suggested potentially unsafe and ill-advised reactions to the vignettes. We discuss our study’s implications for practice and suggest future directions for additional research.

Toward a Model for Engaging Latino Lay Ministers in Domestic Violence Intervention

There is growing recognition that culturally relevant interventions with Latino couples experiencing domestic violence must take place at the community level as well as through clinically-oriented services. This article examines structural and cultural issues related to domestic violence among Latino immigrants living in rural areas of the United States. The authors present a culturally appropriate, environmentally-based model for domestic violence intervention and prevention with rural Latino families. The model identifies Latino church leaders as a potential resource in rural communities and calls upon social workers to collaborate with and support church leaders in preventing and intervening in domestic violence in rural Latino communities.

Protecting Rural Church-Going Immigrant Women from Family Violence

Rural Latino immigrant women at risk of family violence may perceive churches as their only source of help. However, immigrant church leaders may be poorly equipped to address family violence in their congregations. This article describes a project designed to stimulate and support appropriate responses to family violence by rural immigrant churches, including those identified with conservative theological views on women. The primary goal was to provide rural Latino church leaders with culturally sensitive materials and resources they were willing to use with their congregations. We collaborated with local service providers who assisted in recruiting the church leaders for the pastors’ workshops where the resource materials were presented. Survey data indicated most of the pastors were receptive to the content and planned to incorporate it into their church work. Suggestions are made for future research on this culturally sensitive approach to addressing family violence in the immigrant community.