Intimate Partner Homicide of Latinas: Risk Factors and Service Barriers

Latinas experience intimate partner homicide (IPH) at disproportionately high rates, however, research on how intimate partner violence (IPV) leads to homicide in this population is limited. To expand this research, Esperanza United used a community-centered, evidence-based approach to examine barriers to help-seeking for Latinx victims of intimate partner homicide.  Listening sessions and key informant interviews with survivors, advocates, and practitioners from nine community-based Latine organizations were conducted followed by an in-depth qualitative research analysis of homicide risks, protective factors, and barriers to support.

Learning objectives: 

1. Increase knowledge about IPH risk factors and service barriers among Latina survivors
2. Grow confidence in promoting community strengths in prevention
3. Discuss system and policy advocacy

Presenter Bios: Alondra D. Garza, Ph.D. and Vanesa Mercado Diaz, M.A

 Alondra D. Garza, Ph.D. (she/her/ella) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Social Work at the University of Houston-Downtown. Her research focuses on the criminal justice response to violence against women and trauma-informed, culturally relevant interventions for victims. Her recent work has appeared or is forthcoming in Crime and Delinquency, Homicide Studies, and Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice.

 Vanesa Mercado Diaz, M.A. (she/her/ella) is a Research and Evaluation Specialist at Esperanza United, a federally funded culturally specific gender-based violence resource center. She received her master’s in human rights and public policy where her research focused on gender-based violence in Latine communities and Latin America. Her work with Esperanza’s Research and Evaluation team entails increasing knowledge of Latin@ experiences through culturally responsive programs, research, and evaluation while promoting social justice in the field of gender-based violence.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Esperanza United and will be presented in Spanish with ASL and English interpretation.

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