As the leading national Latin@ domestic violence organization, Casa de Esperanza is committed to research and evaluation that promotes social justice in the field of domestic violence and sexual assault. The National Latin@ Research Center on Family and Social Change is one of the cornerstones of this work and prioritizes research and evaluation methods that elevate the voices and realities of Latin@ communities. The center’s work is complemented by an advisory council of nationally recognized researchers and academics with extensive expertise in a variety of fields of specific relevance to Latin@ communities.
The research team advances three main goals:
- Produce knowledge about Latin@ communities’ experiences in the U.S.A. and the multidimensional issue of domestic violence.
- Elevate community-based and culturally-specific work through evaluation and research.
- Support and promote the training and mentoring of Latin@ researchers.
In producing relevant knowledge, some projects include:
The NO MÁS Study
The research team partnered with Lake Research Partners, the Avon Foundation, and the NO MORE organization to develop a large and comprehensive study on sexual assault and domestic violence in the Latin@ community. This groundbreaking research has been used by many in the field to shape public policy, advocate for more culturally responsive and appropriate services, and pursue funding for culturally specific initiatives.
Realidades Latinas: A National Survey on the Impact of Immigration and Language Access on Latina Survivors
Increased immigration enforcement policies have impacted the Latin@ community, especially in the area of domestic violence (DV), where some Latin@ families have been negatively impacted by these policies, at times in life-threatening ways. This study documents the voices of survivors expressing fear due to immigration enforcement and language access issues when reaching out for help.
Participatory Action Research with Latin@ Youth: Exploring Immigration and Domestic Violence
Immigrant Latin@ youth affected by domestic violence are in a unique position to provide researchers with insight to the needs of their communities. Youth at Caminar Latino, a comprehensive, community- based program for Latin@s affected by domestic violence, conducted a study exploring the effects of current immigration laws on Latin@ families in which violence had occurred. This study presents qualitative narratives by Latin@ adults and youth on how immigration has threatened Latin@ family’s well-being and physical safety.
Building Evidence Toolkit
In elevating community-based and culturally-specific work, the research team collaborated with four other Latin@ community based organizations (La Paz, Trans Latin@ Coalition, Mujeres Latinas in Acción, Voces Latinas and the Amig@s initiative of Casa de Esperanza) to develop an evaluation toolkit that is culturally centered and builds the capacity of community-based organizations to evaluate their work.