Survivors of domestic violence of South Asian ethnicities face cultural and linguistic barriers that prevent them from seeking and accessing domestic violence services in the US. A recently founded non-profit organization, Hindu Family Support Services (HFSS), a faith-based organization in the Tampa Bay area, provides culturally and linguistically appropriate supportive and logistical services to survivors in addition to connecting survivors to local services as needed. The Social Work Interdisciplinary Lab (a collaboration between the USF School of Social Work and the USF College of Public Health's Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence), in partnership with Adelphi University School of Social Work have developed a partnership with HFSS to better understand the needs of the volunteer staff of the organization. Based on the expressed needs, the academic partners conducted the first two day "Virtual Training on Domestic Violence" (July 12-13) for volunteers/advocates affiliated with the HFSS. This first of its kind training in the Tampa Bay Area, was attended by 20 volunteers and advocates, some of whom were survivors themselves. The resource persons for the training were Dr. Abraham Salinas-Miranda (USF College of Public Health, Harrell Center) and Dr. Manisha Joshi from USF's Social Work Interdisciplinary Lab, Dr. Subadra Panchanadeswaran from Adelphi University School of Social Work, and Ms. Bithi Roy, a Psychotherapist associated with The Child Center of New York.

The training was focused on understanding IPV (Intimate Partner Violence), its prevalence, healthy relationships and the implications of IPV for the people of South Asian ethnicities. We also discussed various forms of IPV, Florida Law as it relates to Domestic Violence, and how to identify survivors and offer resources and support. The content was further enriched with the presentation of several case studies by Ms. Bithi Roy, a trained social worker with extensive experience in working with survivors.

In the post-training evaluation survey, all the participants indicated that the training was extremely useful, and they could see themselves using the knowledge gained to inform their work with survivors. The training was conducted free of cost.

All the resource persons have continued to work with HFSS and are volunteering their personal time to help HFSS build the capacity to address Domestic Violence in the South Asian community in the Tampa Bay Area. The three partner institutions (HFSS, USF, and Adelphi University School of Social Work) are currently planning a Town Hall to formally launch and introduce HFSS to the Tampa Bay community and other initiatives including research and community outreach.

Dr. Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga delivered two of the five sessions for a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) training curriculum from the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana. Sessions were recorded during presentations to Florida Vocational Rehabilitation in August.

Join the Virtual Information Session September 16 on the fully online master's program in Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health! The program prepares professionals to serve in community, youth, and family agencies and organizations that work to promote the well-being of children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Register here.

1. Payne, T., Joseph, R. A., Yampolskaya, S., & Vatalaro, A. (2020). Florida HIPPY parents successfully prepare their children for kindergarten. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 53, 650-657. doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.07.007

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