Session: Culturally Responsive Intimate Partner Violence Screening and Interventions for Latinas (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)

Two in five Latinas experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime, and one in 14 report IPV in the past year. Although these rates are similar to those of the general female population, Latinas are more likely to experience severe forms of IPV, including homicide, and have greater injuries. Latinas also experience greater barriers to care when accessing assistance or attempting to leave an abusive partner than their white counterparts. Consequently, some Latinas may stay in violent relationships longer and are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance misuse, physical health problems, and economic instability. These consequences are particularly detrimental to Latinas because of existing health disparities and social inequities. As such, culturally responsive screening and interventions are essential to address the specific needs of this population. Albeit small, the body of empirical evidence on Latinas and IPV is growing, moving away from a culturally neutral approach to tailored IPV programming. This symposium brings together three papers that discuss IPV screening and interventions specific to Latinas. Going beyond the usual analysis of IPV-related needs for Latinas, which tends to focus solely on traditional measures of IPV victimization, this symposium considers the diverse experiences and needs of the Latina population.

In an effort to understand the varied experiences of IPV Latina survivors, the three papers in this symposium use different approaches. The first paper examines the state of the literature regarding IPV programming, focusing on how much they address culture. Findings highlight the potential benefits of including culturally tailored and developed components in IPV programming and the gaps in meeting Latinas’ needs. The second paper takes a comprehensive approach towards IPV screening and examines the range of IPV exposures (including institutional-related threats) among a sample of Latinas seeking services at a social service organization. The third paper presents a feasibility study of a community-developed group parenting program for Spanish-speaking Latina mothers with IPV experiences. Findings from this study highlight the importance of culturally relevant programming that seeks to foster connection among Latina mothers experiencing IPV. Overall, findings from the three papers suggest an urgency for research and evaluation of culturally responsive programming and implementation of comprehensive IPV screening to serve Latinas appropriately.

This symposium can increase our understanding of the complex experiences of Latina IPV survivors and programming to meet those needs. Discussion from these papers will provide insights into strategies that are effective or should be considered when working with this population. This symposium will also highlight some of the gaps and challenges in screening and developing and implementing programs with Latina IPV survivors, given their heterogeneity and variability across sub-groups and the structural barriers they may face.