CHETNA is actively involved in community service, volunteering, acting as a clearing house for information to those seeking assistance and being a friend to the South-Asian community.
We provide referrals to a diverse group of service providers and lend support to victims in situations of crisis. CHETNA recognizes the diversity of experience in the South Asian community and strives to work with each victim within her own cultural context. We offer information and help victims explore their options in a confidential and supportive environment. We offer the following services:
Services Offered
Confidential Help Line: CHETNA’s confidential help line is a voice mail system where victims of domestic violence can leave messages. Trained advocates, who speak a number of Asian languages, retrieve messages, return calls promptly, listen to the caller's feelings, problems, and needs, and provide peer counseling, referral and support.
Interpretation/Translation: Members of CHETNA's staff, volunteers and affiliates are multi-lingual. Translators of Asian and Middle Eastern languages accompany resident and non-resident clients and guide their negotiations. Languages include Hindi, Farsi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
Long-term Case Management/Resource Development: CHETNA advocates help clients find the resources that they need, such as emergency shelter, housing, household items, transportation, translation/interpretation services, or medical assistance, and other resources. CHETNA helps its clients, not just at the time of the first call, but throughout their long journey to independence, by being there to listen, discuss options, make referrals, and provide accompaniment and assistance.
Legal Advocacy: CHETNA has volunteers trained in legal advocacy to provide victims with support in legal matters and accompaniment to court and attorney’s offices, and help with immigration issues.
South Asian Women for Action. A list of resources for activism, legal and immigration news, and information of particular interest to South Asian women. http://way.net/sawa/
The National Immigration Forum: news and updates on immigration law. http://www.immigrationforum.org/
Information for obtaining legal status if you are married to an abusive US citizen or lawful permanent resident. http://www.womenslaw.org/25#25
Support Groups and Workshops for Survivors: CHETNA volunteers provide peer support and a safe space for victims to talk and discuss options.
Seminars/Workshops: CHETNA creates and participates in a variety of programming activities that cover aspects of domestic violence, health, victims’s issues, immigrant issues and family relationships. All events are open to the community to help educate and empower individuals and groups.
Speakers: CHETNA representatives make presentations to community and civic groups about family violence, especially in the Asian community. They help many local human service organizations train their staff and volunteers about Asian cultures and the needs of Asian survivors of violence.
Film, Literature and Performing Arts: Through film, theater and literature, CHETNA increases awareness in the community of different norms in our society that can lead to or perpetuate violence and oppression. CHETNA has hosted film screenings and community discussions.
CHETNA Helpline: 1.866.410.5565