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MSCFV NEWS

Left to right: Maria Gonzalez-Ruiz, Jeanne Yeager, Sheila Orwig, Diana Aristizabal

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.

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.