Communities taking charge (CTC)

CTC helps reduce barriers to serving South Asian domestic violence survivors as well as position domestic violence as an issue which receives attention from all sectors of the community including healthcare providers. Sakhi enacted these goals through two specific efforts: the coordination of a collaborative mela (community fair) in Richmond Hill, Queens in September 2006 and a subsequent community-building and outreach campaign in the neighborhood. The Richmond Hill area has one of New York City's highest concentrations of South Asians. The impact of the mela was tremendous – more than 750 people participated. In collaboration with 40 CBOs, including healthcare organizations, Sakhi and its partners ramped up their presence in the Richmond Hill community and increased awareness and access to resources dramatically. Newly strengthened partnerships with healthcare providers resulted – part of a coordinated effort to reach out to the spectrum of community members. To build on momentum gained from the mela, CTC will focus on a community-building campaign within the neighborhood. This campaign will: • Encourage partner CBOs including healthcare organizations to continue to provide residents with access to resources and information on domestic violence; • Provoke dialogue amongst healthcare providers on how to identify and intervene in family violence; and, • Enlist dedicated and motivated medical providers in a Richmond Hill Community Working Group to continue the outreach and awareness work within the neighborhood. Participants of the presentation will learn about this innovative program for community intervention and how to include healthcare providers in the elimination of violence against women.