This document analyzes the impact of culturally appropriate outreach initiatives on raising awareness of domestic violence issues among South Asian communities in New Jersey. It finds that such initiatives increased attendance at outreach and training events from 2014 to 2015 and helped the organization Manavi assist more survivors, including more from outside of New Jersey. Specifically, engaging local religious institutions like Hindu temples, community gatherings, and providing literature in multiple languages proved effective at reaching diverse South Asian cultures. Cultural sensitivity training for law enforcement also helped provide contextual understanding of domestic violence issues for these communities.

1. Impact of Outreach Initiatives
on South Asian Domestic Violence Awareness
Michelle Philip
Priya Suman: Advocate
Purpose
Significanc
e
Outcomes
Acknowledgments
Evaluation
Methodology
Determine level of community
effectiveness based on culturally
appropriate domestic violence
outreach initiatives
Display the need for contextual
culturally realized methods against all
forms of domestic violence
Miseducation
on reproductive
rights•Marginalization of
women's health issues
in South Asia leads to Decrease of
reproductive
freedom
Shame and retribution come from
external social circles
•Individuals feel trapped by familial honor
South Asian women
residing in the US
report experiencing
domestic violence at
higher rates.
40%
Survivors from
cultural backgrounds
terminate services
after their first visit
50%
37
107
75
202
0
50
100
150
200
250
2014 2015
Attendees
Years
Outreach Events Attendance
Training Events
225
420
244
34
72
57
206
416
324
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
2013 2014 2015
Survivors
Years
Survivors Assisted By Manavi
Women in NJ Outside of NJ Total
Types of Cultural Outreach Proved
Effective
•Religion as part of the South Asian cultural
context allows access to niche populations.
In 2015 300+ attendees were reached in a
*Durga Temple (Hindu Temple)
•Cultural niceties such as Community Chai’s
allow domestic violence to be integrated into
everyday rhetoric
Distribution of literature in various
languages reaches a majority of South
Asian cultures
Cultural sensitivity training provided
for local law enforcement allows
contextual understanding of South
Asian specific domestic violence
Insufficient
consideration
given to culture
as a determinant
of domestic
violence
Cultural
Competency
Service providers
will have awareness
knowledge in race
and culture to
engage with the
needs of minorities
Outreach
Attendance
Data
Collection
Data
Analysis
Assessing
Intervention
Outcomes
•Sorted through raw
data in order to
quantify the
effectiveness of
outreach initiatives
•Analyzation of
produced literature
by Manavi to gather
statistical evidence
of culture based
violence
To Manavi for the diverse experience of
affecting change in domestic violence on
a statewide level. Thank you to my
preceptor Priya Suman, the Staff, and
Board of Directors for their invaluable
time, patience, and inclusion. Finally,
special thanks to Professor Ann Marie Hill
who pushed me every step of the way.