Muslim Alliance of Indiana's

First Annual Conference on Domestic Violence

Culture and Compassion:  Understanding, Serving and Empowering Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence

 October 28 & 29, 2010

Location: 

Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel

2544 Executive Dr.

Indianapolis

To Reserve a Room please call:

To book a hotel room, please call before October 14. Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel @317.381.6103. (mention Muslim Alliance of Indiana)

We thank the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for providing grant funding for this event.  A grant award provides funds from the FFY06 Crime Victims Fund to enhance crime victim’s services in the State. Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) assistance funds are competitively awarded by the State to local community based organizations that provide direct service to crime victims.

Continuing Education Credits

Continuing education credits will be issued by Muslim Alliance of Indiana.

This conference is worth 11 CEU Hours.

"The Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board has approved this organization to provide Category I Continuing Education for LSW, LCSW, LMFT, and LMHC.  However, licensees must judge the program's relevance to their professional practice." 

Please check the sessions you and your guests plan to attend. Indicate how many will be attending each session

Thursday, October 28, 2010

 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

Keynote – Family Justice Center

Ann DeLaney, J.D.  

This session will focus on the importance of developing partnerships and collaborations when serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.  The speaker will outline key partnerships within Central Indiana that serve as important resources for practitioners working with these victims.  This session will also outline the development of the “family justice center” concept of service delivery.

10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

Faith as a Resource against Domestic Violence

Bonita McGee and Safaa Zarzour

This session will outline how faiths like Islam have been misunderstood within the realm of domestic violence and gender relations.  This session will focus on key aspects of different faiths that can help advocates of domestic violence victims fight against abusers who use faith as source of power over victims.

Noon – 1:00 Lunch

1:15 – 2:45 p.m.

Using the law to empower immigrant victims

Michelle Gutierrez, Leslye Orloff, and Tabitha Villarrubia

This session will focus on U, T, VAWA and domestic orders for protections.  The law provides vital tools for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The presenters are practicing attorneys that can educate participants about basic information about these various tools.

3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Faith, Culture and Domestic Violence

Neha Gill,  Carleen Miller, and Lubabah Abdullah

This session will focus on how Muslim and Asian cultures may affect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.  This session will provide participants with cultural competency with dealing with Muslims, Sikhs and Burmese victims.  The session will also look at issues of “honor” and “shame” and “extended families” within these communities in America.

Friday, October 29, 2010

8:00-10:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast and Networking

10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

 Public Benefits and Issues of Language Access

Katy Berringer and Leslye Orloff

Many immigrant victims are eligible for public benefits.  Public benefits available to immigrant victims may include both government and nongovernment assistance. This session will focus on how the participants can assist immigrant victims leverage existing resources in Indiana.

12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Luncheon Banquet

Keynote – Faith as a resource in the fight against violence

Sheikh Saleh Habimana, Mufti of Rwanda

The speaker was instrumental in fighting against Genocide in Rwanda.  He will outline how faith can be used as a tool to fight violence in highly turbulent times.                  

1:45–3:15 p.m. 

From Crisis to Collaboration

Betsy Whaley, Linda Majors and Shariq Siddiqui

This session will outline the process an immigrant victim may go through to receive comprehensive services.  This session will also look at ways service providers can develop “complete systems of service” through partnerships and collaborations between various agencies within different communities in Indiana.

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Stories of Compassion

Shariq Siddiqui, Neha Gill, Bonita McGee

This session will focus on case studies of immigrant victims.  Session will highlight how faith and culture have been used against these victims as well as how service providers leveraged resources to assist these victims in becoming survivors.