What you can do

ALSO Law offers help to victims The cycle of violence [GRAPHIC 109 K] Political asylum for victims is under scrutiny www.adelanteonline.com

if you are a victim

When you are afraid for your safety, or when the fear of staying is greater than the fear of leaving, there are places you can go for help, no matter where you live or what your immigration status is. If you are in immediate danger, dial 911.

Local police in most cities put a woman’s safety ahead of her immigration status. If you are not in immediate danger, call your local domestic violence advocacy program, if there is one in your area. Be sure to ask them first if they are aware of the special protections offered to immigrant women, if not, or if you don’t know where to find a shelter in your area, call the bilingual National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233). Trained advocates can offer crisis intervention support, information, language interpreters and referrals to local services in their communities any time of the day or night.

Camdenton: Citizens Against Domestic Violence. Hotline: (888) 809-7233. Office: (573) 346-9630. They offer shelter and have one bilingual staff person who works with the Latino community.
Columbia: The Shelter. Hotline: (800) 548-2480. Office: (573) 875-1369. They offer shelter to victims and have two people on staff who speak Spanish but not fluently. The Centro Latino in Columbia sometimes offers interpreters.
Fulton: Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence. Hotline: (866) 642-4422. Office: (573) 642-1418 . They offer motel placement and transportation to other shelters.
Jefferson City: Jefferson City Rape and Abuse Crisis Service. Hotline: (800) 303-0013. Office: (573) 634-8346. They offer shelter to victims. They don’t have staff who speak Spanish, but they contact El Puente for interpreters.
The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV). Colleen Coble: (573) 634-4161, email: mocadv@mocadv.org. They can provide support, training and materials to advocates to learn more about Missouri laws and resources for battered immigrant women.
Marshall: The Lighthouse Shelter. Hotline: (888) 831-1998. Office: (660) 831-0988. They offer shelter and motel placement. They have a volunteer interpreter from CLARO (Marshall’s Centro Latino.)
Mexico: Audrain County Crisis Intervention Services: “McCamey House.” Hotline: (800) 246-2280. Office: (573) 581-3835. They offer shelter for female victims of domestic violence and their children and help to relocate women from other parts of the state and country into their area. They can contact a volunteer person in the community to interpret for Latina victims.
Moberly: Safe Passage Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Services. Hotline: (800) 616-3754. Office: (660) 269-8999. They offer shelter and can call a volunteer Spanish interpreter.
Sedalia: CASA. Hotline: (800) 894-1151. Office: (660) 827-5559 . They offer shelter to victims of domestic violence. They have a bilingual person on staff and can offer services in Spanish, although the phone line is not in Spanish.
Kansas City: El Centro, Inc. “Mujeres Unidas Saliendo Adelante.” Elena Morales (913) 281-1186.
Mattie Rhodes Center. Counseling Center (816) 471-2536.

For more information on shelters or advocacy groups, please go here

if you are an advocate
To make sure you’re up on the latest regarding VAWA, the U-Visa and other legislation, check with:

• The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV): (573) 634-4161
• The immigrant women program at NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund: iwp@nowldef.org
• National Immigration Project’s domestic violence program: WEBSITE orE-MAIL

if you are a concerned citizen
If you suspect that someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, or if you would like to get involved as a volunteer, contact the women’s shelter in your area. The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV) can find the nearest shelter to you at (573) 634-4161 or e-mail at mocadv@mocadv.
org. If your town doesn’t have a shelter, the coalition can help you organize one.
Most shelters in Missouri are badly in need of bilingual volunteers. If you have Spanish skills and a little time to spare, you could make a big difference in someone’s life.
You can also learn about the issue and work with your local law enforcement officers to make them more aware about the special issues involving immigrant abuse victims.