By Kelly Ranasinghe, Esq.  , National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

This brief publication provides introductory guidance on the intersection between faith, immigration, and domestic violence. This information is important for both advocates and court professionals, as many immigrant survivors of domestic violence turn to their faith communities and personal religious beliefs during times of crisis. Religion is a critically important dimension of culturally responsive services, and evidence also suggests that some forms of religious involvement may provide protective factors against external stressors. Faith also influences how survivors react to and perceive system responses to domestic violence. While this publication is not intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the intricacies between faith, immigration, and domestic violence, it does provide several concepts that are important for advocates to understand when engaging with immigrant communities and survivors.

This is part of a series of Immigration briefs, which include:

• Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence: Tips for Child Welfare Workers and Advocates
• Faith, Immigration, and Domestic Violence: Concepts for Working with Faith Communities
• The Impact of Domestic Violence in the Child Welfare System: Key Points for Court Professionals and Advocates