NOTES

[1] Historically, Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States have been grouped together under various names both by government classifications as well as by us, as part of an intentional community-based strategy to build coalitions with one another.  We recognize the tremendous diversity of more than fifty distinct ethnic and national origin subgroups included within any one grouping.  We also recognize that there are conflicting views on the appropriateness of any aggregate classification or reference.  For example, "Asian and Pacific Islander", "Asian Pacific American", "Asian American and Pacific Islander" have all been used in recent years to name our communities.  Such groupings are ultimately political and part of a dynamic continuing process of self-determination and self-identification.

The Federal Government defines (a) "Asian American" to include persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent; and (b) "Pacific Islander" includes the aboriginal, indigenous, native peoples of Hawai'i and other Pacific Islands within the jurisdiction of the United States.

For our purposes, we include all people of Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry - regardless of immigration status - residing in the United States and the U.S.-associated Pacific Island jurisdictions.  We seek to remain inclusive and responsive to all our diverse communities in how we are named.

[2] This report focuses on domestic violence and the experiences of API women working mostly in the field of domestic violence.  Although the findings of this report extend beyond the category of domestic violence and, indeed, point to the need to expand our definitions and visions of violence, the limited scope of this study also limits its applicability to other forms of violence against API women.

[3] For examples, see Bhattarcharjee, Annanya, "A Slippery Path:  Organizing Resistance to Violence Against Women."  Dragon Ladies:  Asian American Feminists Breathe Fire.  Ed. Sonia Shah.  Boston:  South End Press, 1997.  Rimonte, Nilda. "Domestic Violence Among Pacific Asians." Making Waves.  Ed. Asian Women United of California. Boston:  Beacon Press, 1989.  Tan, Cheng Imm, "Building Shelter:  Asian Women and Domestic Violence." Dragon Ladies:  Asian American Feminists Breathe Fire.  Ed. Sonia Shah.  Boston:  South End Press, 1997.

[4] The term "intervention" is used as a broader term to designate service delivery practices as well as those which may be viewed as "community organizing" or "prevention."  One goal of the Innovative Strategies Project and of the Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence is to expand and clarify our understanding of these terms.

[5] See appendix for demographic and other descriptors of interviewees.

[6] See appendix for full text of interview questions.

[7] This list was constructed from discussions by the Interventions/Services Working Group of the Asian and Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Institute.  Further modifications, namely characteristics number 1 and 7 were added after interviews yielded these additions.  This list is not meant to be a conclusive nor universal characterization of all domestic violence programs.  However, it was useful to have some general consensus on our understanding of these characteristics before further defining "innovative strategies."  See appendix for originally formulated list of characteristics proposed to interviewees.

[8] Quotes are identified by the role and organizational category in which the interviewee gained the experience leading to the observation.  They do not necessarily reflect current roles or organizational identifications.

[9] "Queer" is a term which has held historically derogatory connotations in the U.S., but which is currently being embraced by many lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people in the U.S. as one which celebrates their collective positive identity.

[10] The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility act of 1996 was passed under the Clinton administration.  This Act strengthened grounds for deportation for domestic violence, child abuse and stalking.

[11] A series of anti-immigrant legislation beginning most recently with the the passage of the Immigration Fraud and Marriage Amendments (IMFA) in 1986 severely limited immigrant rights and, in particular, subjected women (and men) married to U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident spouses to greater time restrictions and other conditions before receiving permanent legal immigrant status. Many API domestic violence advocates were critical to efforts advocating for immigrant rights and protection for abused immigrant women and their children.

[12] See Asian Women's Shelter, The Multilingual Access Model:  A Model for Outreach and Services in Non-English Speaking Communities. Harrisburg, PA:  The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, 1999.

 [13] Currently, API shelter programs include Aasra (South Asian, Hayward, CA), Apna Ghar (South Asian, Chicago), Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (pan-Asian, Boston, MA), Asian Women's Home (pan-Asian, San Jose), Asian Women United of Minnesota/House of Peace (pan-Asian, St. Paul, MN), Asian Women's Shelter (pan-Asian, San Francisco, CA), Center for the Pacific/Asian Family (Los Angeles), House of Green Pastures (Korean-specific, Tustin, CA), International Women's House (pan-immigrant, Atlanta, GA), My Sister's House (not yet open) (pan-Asian, Sacramento), Manavi (transitional shelter for South Asian, New Brunswick, NJ), New York Asian Women's Center (pan-Asian, New York City, NY).

Appendix