More Latinos Seek Anti-Domestic Violence Assistance in Gwinnett County

By Michelle Wirth

Atlanta, GA – According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2000 and 2010 there was close to a 153% increase in Gwinnett County's Latino population.
That's one reason the Partnership Against Domestic Violence says it's seeing an increase in the number of Latinos seeking the organization's services in the county.

Since 2009, the number of Latina women and children who have sought shelter in the organization's Gwinnett County safe house has gone up by 50%. Currently, the shelter has 32 beds.

Partnership President and CEO Cathy Willis Spraetz says she does not believe there is a growing domestic violence problem in the Latino community. Instead, she says there are a number of other reasons more Latinos are turning to the organization for assistance.

"The Latino population has grown by leaps and bounds, especially in Gwinnett County, but part of the fact that we believe more people are seeking our services is that we have done a lot in the Latino community in terms of outreach."

Willis Spraetz says the Partnership Against Domestic Violence has a number of advocates who are bilingual and attend events in the Latino community.

"One thing we've learned as we've worked in the community is that the Latino community values word of mouth, so there's an informal communication process that allows us to receive many of our referrals."

Willis Spraetz says it's too early to tell if Georgia's new immigration law will have an impact on the number of Latinos that are seeking the organization's help. She says the Partnership Against Domestic Violence does not ask the immigration status of those it serves.