HAWC increases range by publishing Spanish pamphlets

SALEM – Help for Abused Women and their Children, an organization based in Salem, reaches out to as many North Shore residents as possible. Now it is increasing its range with a pamphlet directed towards the growing Hispanic community.With the recent aid of Advancing Businesses through Language Expertise Innovations, a content and product translation firm, HAWC was able to translate a brochure they regularly distribute from English to Spanish. It tells victims the types of domestic abuse they may encounter and steps toward ending it.”If someone thought that they were in a violent situation, this would help them define that and start them on a path towards a safer situation,” said Alicia Black, coordinator of communications and events for HAWC.HAWC advocates will distribute the tri-fold pamphlets at locations including hospitals, courts and doctors’ offices.”The brochure talks about what abuse is and the different types. There is a checklist for a personal safety plan and there is a list of important documents to take with you if you are leaving a situation involving domestic violence,” said Black.The brochure also lists helpful numbers for victims of abuse including the HAWC hotline and emergency shelters.ABLE Innovations offered HAWC its services for free. The company is known for being actively committed to charities and organizations that benefit women’s causes.HAWC has been offering free and confidential domestic violence programs and services since 1978. It works with the residents of 23 towns on the North Shore.Last year, HAWC helped nearly 2,000 people suffering from domestic violence. More than 20 percent of those clients who were served in a community-based program identified themselves as Latino.Besides English and Spanish speaking clients, HAWC also works with people from many other ethnic backgrounds. Through the HAWC hotline, volunteers can translate for a number of different languages. If volunteers cannot translate for a particular case, the organization can use a translation service made available by the North Shore Medical Center.HAWC also plans to translate its Web site into Spanish and may be working with ABLE on other projects in the future.Currently, domestic violence in the state is on the rise, Black said.”The numbers are up from last year and they have been steadily increasing for the past few years. Domestic homicide almost doubled in the state, and this year we’re on track to double that rate again,” said Black.