Cross-cultural Collaboration Eases Entry to Safe Houses
The Challenge
Going to a domestic violence shelter can be frightening. Women and children, some of whom do not speak English, arrive at a strange place and have no idea what to expect, or what is expected of them. Area domestic violence service providers were seeking ways to better serve survivors. At a meeting facilitated by the Multnomah County Domestic Violence Coordinators office, Tawna Sanchez, Director of Family Services at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA Family Center), suggested introductory videos of area shelters. Tawna and her colleagues knew the Domestic Violence Safe Houses video project would help domestic violence survivors by familiarizing them with their new surroundings, and encouraging them to remain in the shelters long enough to find a safe living situation.
The Solution
Video tours of seven Tri-County area shelters were filmed. Tawna coordinated the introduction and description of each shelter to be dubbed into Russian by Russian Oregon Social Services, Spanish by El Programa Hispano and Vietnamese by the International Refugee Center of Oregon. NAYA Family Center provided crew, equipment and production resources for the videos, and coordinated with shelters and other community partners to film, dub, and edit the DVDs. Editing space and software was provided by Hollywood Theater at no cost, and Rex Post offered a substantial discount in copying the DVDs. Over 138 volunteer hours were dedicated to the project, primarily by 3 devoted individuals.
The Outcome
DVDs of the shelter tours have been distributed to all Portland area shelters, culturally specific service providers, and other social service agencies. Now, women facing the difficult move to a shelter are shown the appropriate DVD, relieving some of their fears. It is hoped that this project will be replicated in other areas.
The Organization
NAYA Family Center is located at 4000 N. Mississippi in Northeast Portland. We serve self-identified American Indian and Alaskan Native youth and their families in the Portland metropolitan area. Our Healing Circle domestic violence prevention program has increased the average stay of a Native woman at an emergency shelter in Portland from 3 to 27 days. Other services offered at NAYA Family Center include educational, employment, cultural and other social services.
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