U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Protecting Rural Church-Going Immigrant Women From Family Violence

NCJ Number
247937
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: April 2014 Pages: 323-332
Author(s)
Tina U. Hancock; Natalie Ames; Andrew O. Behnke
Date Published
April 2014
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Rural Latino immigrant women at risk of family violence may perceive churches as their only source of help.
Abstract
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. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.