ARIZONA SOUTH ASIANS FOR SAFE FAMILIES (ASAFSF) AWARDED GRANTS FROM MAJOR FOUNDATIONSAuthor : Kalpana Batni
ARIZONA SOUTH ASIANS FOR SAFE FAMILIES (ASAFSF) AWARDED GRANTS FROM MAJOR FOUNDATIONS
The Arizona South Asians For Safe Families (ASAFSF) has received grant awards from the Nina Masom Pulliam Charitable Trust, the Arizona Foundation for Women, Lincoln Gives Community Grant of John C. Lincoln Foundation, Verizon Wireless Hopeline Grant and a corporate donation from the Asian Interest Network at SRP. Grant funds will be specifically directed towards capacity building and the organization’s education and outreach programs.
The Arizona South Asians For Safe Families (ASAFSF), an all volunteer community based non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization was established in October 2004 to address a pressing need to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support services to survivors of domestic violence in the South Asian community in Arizona. ASAFSF is the only domestic violence organization serving Arizona’s South Asian community, which is one of the state’s fastest-growing ethnic groups. (We define South Asian as primarily originating from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
ASAFSF began operating a secure toll-free Helpline in November 2006. Since then the organization has received more than 600 calls, 190 of which were received in 2010 alone. There have been 1,750 electronic mail exchanges between ASAFSF advocates, domestic violence survivors, and other service providers since 2007. Referrals, follow-up and coordination of services are essential aspects of advocacy that is provided by ASAFSF. In addition, advocates help survivors and their families with transportation, housing, child-care, medical, legal and other emergent personal expenses.
Grants and donations received by the organization in 2011 are as follows:
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust: $15,000 – Capacity Building
Arizona Foundation for Women: $7,000 – Education and Outreach
Lincoln Gives Community Grant from the John C. Lincoln Health Network: $5,000- Education and Outreach
Verizon Wireless HopeLine Grant: $3,000 – General support
SRP Corporate Donation: $1,300 – General support
The funds received will help ASAFSF transition from an all volunteer to a partially staffed organization. ASAFSF will be hiring a part time Case Worker/ Office Administrator who can assist volunteer advocates in providing adequate support services to victims in a timely manner. This will enhance and strengthen the organization’s direct service programs for the underserved South Asian survivors of domestic violence in Arizona. ASAFSF hopes to fill this staff position by February of 2012.
ASAFSF will also be expanding its Education and Outreach programs to reach out to all age and ethnic demographic groups in the South Asian communities of Arizona.
A major part of the organization's existing funds, raised mainly from individual donations from the community, will be held primarily for direct services to ASAFSF's domestic violence survivors and their children.
Since its inception, ASAFSF has formed local alliances with the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence (AZCADV), National Advocacy and Training Network (NATN), Community Information and Referral (CIR), local domestic violence shelters, Community Legal Services (CLS), Family Advocacy Center (FAC), Asian Pacific Community in Action (APCA) and the Refugee DV Committee. It has received mentorship and technical support from the Asian & Pacific Islanders Institute on Domestic Violence (APIIDV), Manavi Inc., New Jersey, and the South Asian Network in California. ASAFSF has also received technical assistance in developing its training programs from the APIIDV and the AZCADV
ASAFSF has organized a very successful conference “Shakti-the Power in Empowerment” in April 2009 featuring eminent speakers from the US and India, a Cultural Competency Training Workshop held in April 2010 attended by over 60 members of the local domestic violence service providers and law enforcement agencies. This workshop was presented by Ms. Firoza Chic Dabby, Director, APIIDV, San Francisco. More recently, ASAFSF collaborated with the AZCADV for the National Network to End Domestic Violence national conference held in November 2011.
ASAFSF continues to conduct Outreach programs in the South Asian and mainstream communities in Arizona. ASAFSF has participated in the Crossing Cultures training and panel discussions organized by A New Leaf and Arizona Victims Assistance Academy (AVAA). ASAFSF has also developed and conducted a 20 hours training program, HIMMAT: Domestic Violence Awareness and Advocacy with special focus on South Asian Culture-Specific Issues.
In addition to the funds mentioned above, ASAFSF has received donations in cash and kind from their loyal friends and well - wishers. Locally, over the last few years, ASAFSF has been the beneficiary of Indo U.S. Foundation Charity Walks, Arathi School of India Dance, and the Rajasthani Association donations. In 2010, the dance troupe Stage Sanchaar of Austin, TX. donated a performance at ASU’s Kerr Cultural Center to benefit ASAFSF.
ASAFSF is grateful for all the support and encouragement in this long journey, which has brought the organization a great measure of stability, and wide recognition in the community. ASAFSF would like to thank all their friends and donors for their continued support and good will.