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MSCFV NEWS

MID-SHORE COUNCIL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE STAFF RECEIVE GOVERNOR'S VICTIM SERVICES CITATION

Sheila Orwig, Maria Gonzalez-Ruiz and Diana Aristizabal from Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence (MSCFV) received a Governor's Citation from the Maryland State Board of Victim Services at a luncheon held in Annapolis on May 4, 2007. The Citation was given "In recognition of their commitment to furthering the rights of crime victims, their advocacy for fair, compassionate and dignified treatment of all victims and their determination to increase awareness of victim's rights issues."

Sheila Orwig has been the MSCFV Legal Program Coordinator since July 2003. She has assisted hundreds of victims of domestic violence by accompanying them to court proceedings and providing attorneys to represent them in divorce and custody cases. Sheila is responsible for coordinating and managing the legal services grants and projects provided by MSCFV in five counties. Maria Gonzalez-Ruiz and Diana Aristizabal are the Bilingual Outreach Program staff at MSCFV. Since MSCFV began providing bilingual services in Spanish and implementing outreach efforts in Hispanic/Latino and immigrant communities, the number of Hispanic clients served by MSCFV has grown from 3.4% to 16%. Maria and Diana provide direct services in Spanish, participate in multi-cultural committees and festivals, implement public awareness efforts in Spanish and work with mainstream providers to ensure clients can access services from the community.

Executive Director of MSCFV, Jeanne Yeager commented, "we are very fortunate to have such dedicated advocates at MSCFV who help so many people every day, they are unsung heroes who deserve this recognition, we are very proud of them and their work."

MSCFV is a non-profit organization, which provides a wide range of services for victims and perpetrators of family violence. It operates a shelter which provides emergency housing, 24-hour hotline, provides emotional support, advocacy, support groups, crisis counseling, and accompaniment to court proceedings, legal representation, crisis response to hospitals, information and referrals, Abuser Intervention Program, and programs for children. MSCFV has a comprehensive Bilingual Outreach Program and all services are provided in Spanish.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact MSCFV's hotline at 1-800-927-4673.

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TRAVELING ATTORNEY PROVIDES IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT (VAWA) GRANT

In 1994, Congress recognized that many immigrant victims of domestic violence who depend on their abusive spouse to help them apply for legal status in the U.S. are afraid of leaving their abusive relationship in fear they would loose their legal status. The abusive spouse uses the immigration process as a means of controlling the victim and keeping them in the abusive relationship. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed to address such issues and permit victims to gain legal status on their own without the help of their abusive spouse.

Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence (MSCFV) and Prince George's County, Office of the Sheriff realized there was an increasing need in their communities to address and provide immigration legal services to immigrants who are victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. MSCFV, in partnership with the Office of the Sheriff, received a grant to hire a Traveling Immigration Attorney to work out of each agency serving these individuals in their communities. The VAWA Project began implementation on March 1, 2007 with a grant from the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention through the Office of Violence Against Women and is considered a model project in the State.

Ms. Helen Chen, the Traveling Immigration Attorney, spearheads the VAWA project and has experience working with immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes. She provides immigration legal services to individuals who qualify for immigration relief under VAWA and conducts outreach in the five counties served by MSCFV and in Prince George's County. She works out of the Office of the Sheriff in Prince Georges County and at MSCFV to build collaborations with other service providers in the community to help address the various needs of these individuals. Helen is assisted by Ms. Kelly Guzman, the Immigration Bilingual Advocate who provides interpretation services, translates documents, document preparation and other immigration services pertaining to the client. Together, Helen and Kelly travel between the two agencies to serve the clients and conduct outreach and advocacy.

MSCFV is a regional domestic violence program which provides services in Kent, Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Queen Anne's Counties. If you or someone you know needs assistance call the MSCFV hotline at 1-800-927-4673.

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BILINGUAL PROGRAM

MSCFV staff began receiving Spanish lessons from bilingual staff on August 29, 2006.

The Bilingual Program is working with the Group of Leaders to develop activities and events related to the Hispanic/Latino community at the Mid-Shore region. Among this activities are:

• Compile the list of resources available in Spanish.
• Prepare the meeting with representatives from the Law Enforcement System and the Hispanic/Latino community. The purpose of this meeting is to open spaces for communication between the LES and the community.
• Prepare a Meeting with representatives from the Governor's Commission on Hispanic affairs to share Group's needs and goals.

Prepare activities to be held during October, the National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

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