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When "Comadres" Become Lifelines: Rethinking Domestic Violence Outreach for Hispanic Survivors

• Genesis Women's Shelter & Support

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When Hispanic survivors of intimate partner violence seek help, they face a gauntlet of unique cultural barriers that can make safety seem impossible. From family members who prioritize appearances over protection to faith leaders who frame abuse as a spiritual test, the path to safety is fraught with roadblocks that extend far beyond language differences alone.

Teresa Gallegos, Director of Outreach and Accessibility at the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, brings profound insights to these challenges. Drawing from her experience as a nationally credentialed advocate, immigrant, and sibling survivor, Teresa walks us through powerful scenarios that illustrate how these cultural dynamics play out in real life. She explains why simply translating existing materials into Spanish misses the mark and how her groundbreaking "Juntos le ayudamos" (Together We Will Help Them) campaign took a fundamentally different approach.

Instead of targeting survivors directly, this innovative campaign focused on "comadres" and "compadres" – the trusted allies who serve as crucial lifelines when survivors finally decide to share their stories. Teresa reveals how her team crafted culturally-specific radio spots, billboards, WhatsApp messages, and even old-school tear-off flyers that resonated with Hispanic communities across Kansas. Most powerfully, she shares how seeing these Spanish-language resources gives survivors a profound sense of validation: "You matter enough for someone to do this."

Whether you're a service provider looking to better reach Hispanic communities or someone who might one day be that trusted "comadre" for a survivor, this conversation offers concrete strategies and commitment statements that can make all the difference. Join us to learn how small actions – from exploring your local grocery store's community board to implementing language access policies – can create pathways to safety for Hispanic survivors in your community.

Speaker 1:

Earlier this year, we met with presenters at the 2025 Conference on Crimes Against Women in Dallas, texas. In this episode, my guest, teresa Gallegos, a nationally credentialed advocate and the director of Outreach and Accessibility at the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, joins the show to discuss the strategies that support Hispanic survivors of intimate partner violence. I'm Maria McMullin and this is Genesis, the podcast. Teresa Gallegos is a nationally credentialed advocate and the Director of Outreach and Accessibility at the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. Previously, she served as the Director of Education and Training and the Sexual Assault Advocacy Response Coordinator, playing a key role in the Kansas Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, also known as SAKI. Before her work at the coalition, she was the Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Coordinator at the YMCA, where she supported survivors of human trafficking, domestic and sexual violence. Ms Gallegos is also a dedicated volunteer for Kansas Concerns of Police Survivors. Inspired by her own experience as a sibling survivor, as an immigrant and a mother of a child with a disability, she focuses on engaging underserved populations through outreach and public speaking. Moreover, her holistic approach fosters collaboration and understanding, enhancing support systems.

Speaker 1:

Teresa, welcome to the show, hi, thank you. Thank you for having me. We are here at the 2025 Conference on Crimes Against Women. Just talking with different presenters and speakers at the conference, which occurs annually in May in Dallas, texas, and your presentation is incredibly important, especially to Genesis, because about 50% of clients at Genesis Women's Shelter and Support in Dallas, texas, are Hispanic. So we've that our Hispanic clients have unique needs, cultural needs that we may not always know about and you know we need to check in with them about. So you've been doing some similar work and identified some of the unique barriers and needs of Hispanic survivors. Tell us about the barriers they face and how they may be unique to their own culture.

Speaker 2:

A great question. So what we learned is that there are many barriers that they face, and a lot of them are rooted in cultural beliefs and are very much as like sanctity of the household, which is there.

Speaker 2:

Are these values that you know not to ask for help. So there really presents a lot of walls and unavailable resources, because it's about not asking for help and it's about the guilt and the shame. What I would like to share with you is walking through some scenarios that highlight those barriers and a very small glimpse of some of the breakthroughs that can happen for survivors. So I'll start out with the scenario that I want to share. We're going to call this person or name her Elena. The example or scenario is he gets angry if I go out or talk to people. Once he pushed me when I tried to leave the house. He said if I ever told anyone, he would report me to immigration and I would never see my kids again. I know it's not as bad as what happens to other women, but I feel scared all the time. So one of the scenarios is Elena will go to her brother and the brother's response is you married him, I have got my own family. This is making us look bad. So what that does? It presents a barrier and it's a teaching point about the machismo and the stigma that could create challenges that isolate survivors and strain familial support. Another scenario is sometimes there's a referral or reference to a faith leader. The response in that could potentially be, or has been maybe the Lord is testing your faith. Marriage is about sacrifice, so as service providers, it's just. It creates a challenge. So it's important to honor the person's faith and honor their experience with their religious members and the relationship that they may have in that community. It's knowing that framing could silence a survivor, but also knowing that spirituality can be a strength but also a pressure at the same time.

Speaker 2:

I'll share another scenario to highlight or show what another barrier that happens often is. They will go to a school counselor or the counselor may call them in and say your daughter is struggling and it's clear something at home is affecting her. As a mother, it's your job to protect her from that kind of environment. So that's a big barrier because it puts the blame on the mother for the effects of the domestic violence and it puts everything on her not being a good mother to the child. So it assumes equal responsibility between the victim and the abuser. Also, it's a missed opportunity. Sometimes when people are in trauma, it's difficult to articulate what you're feeling what you're wanting to say. So offering an opportunity to have an interpreter, have a translator, is really important and crucial, and so it just kind of deepens the mistrust there.

Speaker 1:

What I hear also in just those three scenarios, especially in two of them. So in the first one, she goes to her brother, a loved one, a person that she trusts, respects, believes. You know he feels the same way about her and he does not do anything to address what's happening to her, only how her coming to him, potentially getting involved, would impact his own family. So you completely dismiss her claims of domestic violence or abuse that she's suffering. The second one was the faith leader. Again, she holds this faith leader in high esteem, trust them completely, potentially that you know that they are her spiritual advisor and they do nothing to address what the abuse that she is suffering.

Speaker 1:

I think that further diminishes the person who's experiencing abuse, and we need to. Hopefully our audience is doing some active listening right now and thinking about oh hey, you know I shouldn't be a bystander either. I should not be focusing on how it's going to impact me, but only how I can support that survivor. And then the third example was, to your astute points, giving equal blame to both the victim and the abuser for what was happening and how it was impacting the child, which is just inherently wrong. It's a wrong response. Are school counselors receiving education about how to respond to when they perceive there may be violence in the home.

Speaker 2:

It's my understanding that they are, but it may be different state to state.

Speaker 1:

I'm just curious, like in your state, in Kansas, is there something in place?

Speaker 2:

In Kansas. It's my understanding that it's part of like their onboarding, that they receive X amount of hours and training and different kinds of trauma and anything within their professional development. But what I also am aware of is that it's on them to seek out learning sessions or training opportunities that develop and continue to build on what they already know and what they're constantly learning, so it may not be required to educate.

Speaker 1:

continuing education no, no.

Speaker 2:

Was there another scenario? There is one scenario that is kind of a breakthrough. Mm-hmm, it is. Anna is the co-worker, and the co-worker Anna says my ex was like that, there's a place that helped me, you are not alone. There's a breakthrough here, but I think it's that the good thing about sharing the scenario is that it just kind of highlights and speaks to how our outreach is so important. So you have allies, potentially throughout communities or in the public, but you know, not every Elena has Ana. That's a co worker, right. So we walk through all of these scenarios and there were a couple other little breakthroughs here but also pros and cons and just realizing that sometimes people are very isolated and they have no one else. They are not able to go and speak with a neighbor, or they don't have a Doña Rosa you know in their neighborhood that she could really go to, and what we learn in the Hispanic communities is that oftentimes there is someone in the community that's your go-to person, but what if you can't even go to that go-to person because of threats?

Speaker 1:

So yeah, I think it's very challenging for victims of domestic violence to determine who might be a safe person for them, especially if their abusive partner has friendships or relationships with the same person that she may be thinking of talking to. So there are a lot of concerns to take into consideration for her own safety and her own well-being. Now, out of these scenarios, you developed a toolkit that helps to raise awareness about services in order to increase client engagement. Tell us about that campaign and how it was successful.

Speaker 2:

Our campaign came about a few years ago and keep in mind some of it might have been due to COVID, but what we realized is that our member programs, programs in Kansas that are providing direct service to victims and survivors there was a significant low participation or low people reaching out and asking for help. So KCSDB partnered with Puente, who is a marketing company in Kansas, and they did a lot of research in Kansas. There's some statistical information that came through and what it highlighted is that the population of Hispanics is growing nationally, but it's also growing in Kansas and actually it's growing significantly higher in Kansas. So the opportunity is there to help people and so it came about that the goal was really to raise awareness and also encourage survivors to come and seek the help of the services that are available to them Through the research, through the foundings. As we talked a little bit, we found that in Hispanic communities it's difficult for people to ask and reach for help, and especially difficult to ask for help when you want to talk to someone about something as personal as domestic violence or sexual violence, but it's even more personal to talk about it, like you said, or we mentioned, strangers.

Speaker 2:

So what we took is we took a different approach. Instead of translating or interpreting things that have already been created, we knew that in order to have trust, we needed to go a step further. So we just strongly believe that, because of the Hispanic community and how trust is such a big piece and such an important family-knit community foundation that is in there, that there is someone in their community that they trust. So we really hung on to that and at the core of the campaign we talked about that before someone's going to share what has happened to them, they have to trust them. So our approach was thinking about in the Hispanic culture there's the term of endearment like comadre or compadre, which is like a best friend. So we really wanted that feeling of that person, not so much the comadre or compadre, but what feeling does that person give you and its trust. So that's how Juntos Le Ayudamos, which is the tagline that we ended with, which is, together, we will help them.

Speaker 2:

And what we did is we wanted to connect with the comadres and the compadres, the allies out there, and the materials were developed in Spanish for that person, because we know, for those of us that do outreach, and you know someone that is a victim, survivor of domestic violence, sexual violence, is least likely to come to your table, especially when they see your name in the title. But if it's for someone you know, they're more likely to do that. So we really wanted that person, that comadre, compadre and our information was developed and created in a way that really connects with the Hispanic culture. We used words that are very rhyming in Spanish, there's like corridos, and words that are really catchy and rhyming. So some of the content that was developed an example is si sospechas de maltrato, ayúdale de inmediato. So if you think of like, I'm not going to try to say Okay. So the content was developed and created in Spanish. The words were speaking to the Hispanic culture, the colors were to the Hispanic culture and we created not only the content in Spanish and all of that, but also the materials and the assets were created in a way of what connects with that community.

Speaker 2:

Across the state of Kansas, for example, in Garden City and Dodge City, which are way more rural parts of Kansas, we learned that there's a radio station. That's how most people get their communication through that. That's how most people get their communication through that. So we created Spanish radio segments Also, knowing that Univision is very popular through different parts of the state of Kansas. We created 15 second and 30 second commercials. There were billboards that were created. There were flyers with the tag where you pull off the phone number.

Speaker 1:

I know that sounds really old school. Well, I mean, it sounds like you're speaking to your audience, to what is going to be meaningful to your audience.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so those are the things that we created because that example was they wanted that in the grocery stores because someone is more likely to potentially go to one of those grocery stores and can easily access that information. So that's how the content came about. I spoke to some of the materials and assets that were created during for the Hispanic Toolkit Awareness Campaign.

Speaker 1:

So I know you're trying to create awareness about services, but it also sounds like you're trying to cultivate engagement from the community to be open to hearing about experiences of domestic violence of people that they may not actually know. Is that accurate? Yes, that's accurate. And how does that work for them? What is the process for them to become involved? Do they have to go to some type of training or group or call and say I want to be able to help people, or is it just this idea that you want them to be open to receiving the information and then point people in the direction of services?

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So it's really about public awareness. It's about saying to everyone if you know someone that is going through this, you know you feel like they trust you and they have shared that information. It's up to you to take ownership of that and learn about what is available to them and then, once they trust you, then you take them to where that service is. So it's really about inviting everyone in the community to learn more about what services are available to them for people that when they are ready to seek help and ask for support.

Speaker 2:

The awareness campaign was very more around, broad, around the state of Kansas. First of all, just the awareness that this happens sexual violence, domestic violence happens but also really start the conversation. The reality is that it's broad, it's all over the place. There are people that don't even want to talk about sexual violence or domestic violence and there are people that have learned about it through. You know others that has happened to them or they have learned about it in school. But it's really about for us, as the public, to take another step further and learn and educate ourselves about what's available and what's out there.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think those are critical points to supporting people and meeting them where they are. You also have a unique way to increase provider engagement with Hispanic survivors through writing commitment statements. How does that?

Speaker 2:

work. What I've learned in my experience is that I really learn a lot going to trainings, taking a step further and attending a session and taking notes. But the action statement was really carved out time for everyone to sit and, you know, think of three things like what is one actionable thing that you can take with you once you leave this room? So it was really about we spent some time throughout the entire session working through, discussing the barriers, talking about the awareness campaign. But now how do you do something with this? What is your next step? What is one thing that you will implement at your member program or in providing services for victims and survivors, whether if you're in the healthcare field, law enforcement, criminal justice system, educator.

Speaker 2:

So we sat down and talked about these are the things that I can do today. It's one thing, but long-term, this is what my agency can do, whether if that was implementing policies and procedures that really addressed how do we make sure that we're providing interpreter services and translation services to every person that walks in our building or walks in our office, or that we're helping write a incident report. For there were some personal commitments that were talked about, that were shared. One example that someone stayed with me after the session and said when I go back home I'm going to walk back in my town and I want to explore what the grocery store looks like in my community and that is really going to open up my eyes to learn more about how people are accessing information. They may not even know that we exist in our town. So that may seem really minimal, but it's really broadened her experience of wanting to learn more about culture and how people would connect to them.

Speaker 1:

I think that's really interesting though, because, as I reflect on the, explore her grocery store to see how people are accessing information. If I think about the grocery store in my community, I don't recall seeing any flyers. Everything's so digitized right. So everywhere we go it's a digital sign, it's a flat screen, but I don't recall seeing any types of billboards anymore with flyers and phone numbers that you can tear off. Is that practical in Kansas to post stuff?

Speaker 2:

like that. Yeah, it is I actually. About a week and a half ago I walked in. There's a grocery store in my hometown and I walked in there and I asked my daughter. I said do you see any of these kind of things in the town? She's away at college.

Speaker 2:

Oh okay, she's away at college. So she came home and she was like no, mom, I don't see those where I'm at, but I do see them here. So maybe it's a Kansas thing, but I do see them, I see them there. But I do know that when I go to a couple different grocery stores that when you walk in there are some signs and people still like post things up there.

Speaker 1:

Okay, I think that's great Because, in addition to speaking to your audience, you have to message to your community in a way that they're actually going to be able to receive it, whether it's flyers or some other opportunity.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, one of the other things that we created with the toolkit was some messages that people could copy and paste, and we learned that a lot of people use the WhatsApp. That was one example that we used is copy and paste, like I learned about this organization that provides this kind of support if you know someone, so that's being like a comadre, you know sharing it, right, if you know someone that may need this kind of help, and so it's a copy and paste so that people could use it in the WhatsApp. Same thing with social media the toolkit we created where someone could easily post something on their organization, social media, and it's already been translated and it was developed in Spanish. Good, so, with the imaging that matches the community that we're wanting to have them access.

Speaker 1:

What's the response been from the community and from survivors?

Speaker 2:

I don't have as much access to that information personally, professionally, but I do hear from some of the advocates that are doing that work that have seen the flyers or have seen the billboards. The most response that I've received is from the billboards in the Wichita area. Just because they know that I'm connected to that. It's a lot of like proud that this is important to us. I'm doing air quotes that this is important enough for us to be doing something like that. Yes, so I know. I saw it in the Kansas City area. Our member program there, moxa, who is in the Kansas City area. They launched a big campaign and it was shared with me that they also had it inside the buses and I heard feedback. I didn't hear it from survivors because I don't do direct work and I don't receive those calls, but I did learn from one of the advocates and she mentioned that someone else she was working with. But it's the pride of knowing that people like you mean enough for someone to do that, to have that on a billboard.

Speaker 1:

I think I completely understand what you're saying to feel like you. Who is reading this in Spanish in a way that directly speaks to you? You matter, what's happening to you matters, and there are people who, to your point, care enough about you and your experience to want to give you opportunities to access services and information. Yeah, and I've heard that from other survivors as well, who've been on the show, kind of sometimes in the opposite way. Like you know, immigrants from other countries who came to the United States experienced domestic violence, and law enforcement would not respond to their calls because it was as if they did not matter, for whatever reason. That could be lots of reasons, and I think that this campaign is a great expression of that. We all matter. Every life matters and we should take care of each other right, especially when it's domestic violence. Before I let you go, what are some commitment statements that people could maybe take action on today? Like, just give us ideas of what people have said to you.

Speaker 2:

I brought some with me and then I can share a couple from today's session. There was quite a few people that stayed back. I will connect with a bilingual advocate to better understand language access barriers. That was a personal, A professional is. I will implement trauma-informed practices that reduce fear of authority when interacting with immigrant survivors.

Speaker 2:

That one was shared about two years ago in one of my other sessions and then I will implement partnerships with Spanish language media to raise awareness about available survivor services, and that is one of the ones that really worked through the state of Kansas and ensuring that this was launched in one of their communities.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and from today. Today it was the one about the grocery that was really impactful the grocery store. One about the that was really impactful the grocery store and maybe it's because it's so it happened so recently to me about a week and a half ago, when I went and walked into a grocery store and I saw flyers and things like that with the tear off information. The other one they wanted to know if one of their commitments is to bring in trainers or presenters that talk more about the development of the content in Spanish and culturally specific. They're from a location in Tennessee. I don't remember the exact location, but they have my number and are going to go back and speak with our leadership about bringing in someone that can speak from professional and personal experience for their staff.

Speaker 1:

That's amazing. I'm so glad you made those connections and I'm so glad that you brought this information to the over 2000 people attending the conference on crimes against women. Thank you so much for talking with me today. Thank you, thank you for having me here.

Speaker 3:

Genesis Women's Shelter and Support exists to give women in abusive situations a way out. We are committed to our mission of providing safety, shelter and support for women and children who have experienced domestic violence, and to raise awareness regarding its cause, prevalence and impact. Join us in creating a societal shift on how people think about domestic violence. You can learn more at GenesisShelterorg and when you follow us on social media on Facebook and Instagram at Genesis Women's Shelter, and on X at Genesis Shelter. The Genesis Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by call or text at 214-946-HELP 214-946-4357.