Esperanza United departments

Learning community

Learning community  We thought about this section as a space to build a community in which we can share resources and learn from each other. We know that sometimes it is hard to find a tool or an ingredient that you can use that is appropriate for the kind of work […]

Fuerza Unida: An approach for engaging communities

Fuerza Unida is a community engagement process developed by Esperanza United (formerly Casa de Esperanza). This manual will give you both the philosophy and the “nuts and bolts” to implement a similar process in your community. Our commitment to the use of listening sessions to evaluate and inform the development of […]

Youth witness factsheet: Structural risk factors to domestic violence exposure, part 2

Other important protective factors that contribute to resilience among DV exposed children and youth, include building connections (e.g., mentoring), developing personal strengths – such as social competence (e.g., communication), and autonomy (e.g., adaptive distancing), and enhancing maternal monitoring among Latin@ youth. A study on DV and PTSD, found that the amount […]

Youth witness factsheet: Increased risk of domestic violence in adulthood

Children and youth living in homes affected by DV are also at high risk for both future perpetration and victimization—that is, they are more likely to commit acts of DV or experience maltreatment in adulthood. A review of academic research found 16 distinct research studies that identified a link between childhood […]

Youth witness factsheet: Impact of exposure to domestic violence

The negative effects of exposure to DV on children and youth has been well documented in research. Psychological, physical, and social consequences of exposure to DV are seen across ages, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Infants who witness DV have been found to show symptoms related to PTSD such as trouble sleeping, […]

Youth Factsheet

Latin@s make up 23% of youth under the age of 18 in the U.S., and in some states, including California and New Mexico, Latin@ youth make up the largest ethnic group. While Latin@ youth demonstrate much strength, they are at higher risk for poorer social, educational, economic, and health outcomes. There […]

Myths and facts

There are many myths about domestic violence that perpetuate a distorted view about its nature and causes. This list is a starting point; we hope that it will prompt you to examine your beliefs and provide you with helpful information.  

Support womens’ and girls’ organizations

Support women’s and girls’ organizations  You may not know that women and girls are at a disadvantage in most societies, including in Latin@ communities. Women suffer much higher rates of domestic violence than men and a much higher percentage of sexual assault (though boys are also victims of sexual assault perpetrated […]

Share your own story

Share your own story  By a recent estimate, more than 15 million children are exposed to domestic violence in their homes in the US. Many others are direct victims of child abuse. Statistically, half of these children are male. That means that there are millions of men in the US (and […]

Be an active bystander

Be an active bystander This takes even more courage than influencing other men because it involves intervening when you see violence or the threat of violence. It is a tricky skill because you should not put yourself or others in harm’s way or respond to violence with more violence.  Being a […]