News and Events

Protect AAPI Women: API-GBV’s Statement on the 2-Year Anniversary of the Atlanta Spa Shootings

3/16/2023

Today marks two years since eight people, among them six Asian massage workers, were killed at spas in the Atlanta area. This heinous act of racial and gender-based violence resulted in terrible loss that devastated our communities, and its impact is still felt today. We continue to remember the victims and grieve with their loved ones.

Even as our communities rebuild, we are continuously faced with acts of anti-AAPI hate and gender-based violence, including the loss of Frances Kendra Lucero in a domestic homicide in Daly City last week. We must recognize the intersection of race and gender that AAPI women exist in. We must amplify the needs of and resources for AAPI women. We must push for a societal and cultural shift that prioritizes the safety AAPI women. We must protect AAPI women, today, and every day.

Read our statement on the Atlanta spa shootings and our statement from the 1-year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings.

Access the GoFundMe for Frances Kendra Lucero. For additional resources and support, please contact the Filipino Community Center.

Image 1: Monica, API-GBV’s Executive Director, at the Asian Americans Rise Against Hate Rally in Atlanta

Image 2-6: From the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Tree Planting Commemoration for the Atlanta spa victims

Making Waves: KFAM’s Asian Foster Family Initiative

Making Waves: KFAM’s Asian Foster Family Initiative

3/29/23 at 12:00pm PT/3pm ET

Join this 45 minute virtual event to learn about the Asian Foster Family Initiative (AFFI) from Korean American Family Services (KFAM). AFFI is the U.S.’ first and only AAPI-focused foster family agency; it addresses the critical need for culturally-sensitive placement for the 600-800 AAPI children in Los Angeles County’s foster system. As these children are frequently survivors of abandonment, abuse and neglect, and often witnesses to family violence, placement in foster homes without a cultural match can lead to increased trauma. KFAM’s advocates provide training and support to Asian families interested in fostering throughout the preparation, application, and post-application/adoption process.

This event is intended for AAPI-serving advocates who are interested in learning more about the unique AFFI program, and who may be interested helping to address the foster care crisis in small or large ways, from advocacy and partnership, to development of a foster/adoption program. With over 400,000 children in the nation’s foster care system and only 200,000 foster families, this is not only an urgent issue, but also one that intersects closely with our work to improve responses to families experiencing GBV.

Register now!

Related Resources

API-GBV’s Statement on the Mass Shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay

Updated January 24, 2023

Just days after the tragedy in Monterey Park, we are shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay. We mourn the loss and injury of eight victims and share our condolences with their loved ones. Our hearts break as we grieve these unspeakable losses. Our communities, who have endured so much in the last four days, deserve to feel safe and supported.

This Lunar New Year, a time meant for celebration and joy, our communities mourn the deaths and injury of the twenty victims of the January 21st mass shooting in Monterey Park, California. We are shocked and devastated by this horrific loss. Our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims and with our AAPI communities as we grieve and process this tragedy.

There is an undeniable connection between mass shootings and femicide, some of the most extreme forms of gender-based violence (GBV). In the U.S., 60% of mass shooting events were either domestic violence attacks or perpetrated by those with a history of domestic violence. In relationships where there has been a history of intimate partner violence, homicide is the ultimate manifestation of power and control of one partner over the other. Identifying the correlation between guns, mass violence, and GBV brings us closer to addressing these problems at their roots.

As our communities work toward healing, we must continue to invest in AAPI organizations engaged in culturally- and linguistically-relevant prevention and intervention efforts. To effectively support AAPI individuals, understanding the intersections and differences of cultures, providing language accessible services/resources, and options for culturally-sensitive mental health support are essential. Care without deeply comprehending context cannot fully serve the needs of our communities.

To find resources and services in your area, please use our Directory of GBV Agencies Serving the AAPI Community and our AAPI In-Language Resource Library. For AAPI community members in Southern California, the Center for the Pacific Asian Family, Korean American Family Services and Little Tokyo Service Center provide local culturally-specific and in-language services. If you know of someone who may need support or someone to talk to, the 988 Lifeline uses Language Line Solutions to provide interpretations in 250+ languages. To contact us, please visit api-gbv.org or email info@api-gbv.org.

Read our Gun Violence and Domestic Violence (DV) in the AAPI Community fact sheet here.

 

Building Solidarity & Confronting Oppression: A healing retreat for AAPI anti-GBV orgs

Building Solidarity & Confronting Oppression: A healing retreat for AAPI anti-GBV orgs

1/25/23 at 10:30am PST

Join API-GBV and Healing Equity United for the first in a series of virtual workshops, or healing retreats, addressing solidarity, privilege, and implicit bias. This series is intended for advocates and community members working to address domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence in AAPI communities.

This series is made possible by Grant Number 90EV0526 from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the presenters and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Register now!

Related Resources

How do Recent ‘Public Charge’ Policy Changes Impact Immigrant Survivors of Crime?

In September 2022, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule interpreting the meaning and application of the “public charge” provisions of immigration law. This advisory describes provisions under the new final rule and how it will impact immigrant survivors of violence, particularly in light of the pandemic.

Related Resources

By Grace Huang, J.D.

October 2022

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Bridges: A Connect Call for Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Addressing Gender-Based Violence

Bridges: A Connect Call for Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Addressing Gender-Based Violence

Next call: October 25, 2022 (9am HST / 12pm PST / 3pm CST / 3pm EST)

These bi-monthly community connect calls are intended to be a space for AANHPI advocates, community members, and allies to connect, dialogue, share successes, problem solve, and network. API-GBV staff will be available to moderate and encourage discussion, but this is a space for YOU, as the experts of this work, to share your experiences and to learn from allies across the country.

October’s theme: Navigating the Grants Process

With several current federal grants opening soon, is your organization well positioned to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities? October’s Bridges Connect Call will be a space to discuss the opportunities and challenges around grants, from federal to foundation. Please bring your questions and be prepared to share your experiences or strategies related to applying for or managing grants, the organizational structures or processes that support grants management, and other related topics.

You will also hear about two current opportunities: Program Specialists from OVW Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Program will provide an overview of the LAV program with a focus on the special funding initiative, the Expanding Legal Services Initiative. LAV program staff will review its purpose, eligibility, priority areas, and some general information about the application process. A Q&A session will follow. API-GBV staff will also provide information about our new ARP Support for Survivors grant program, which will support community-based, culturally-specific organizations serving survivors of violence.

 

ASL interpretation and live captioning provided.


Other details:

Meetings will be hosted on Zoom, and you are encouraged to join with video and voice to the extent that you are comfortable. These calls will not be recorded, but we may share takeaways, without identifying information, with our staff or community. ASL interpretation and captioning will be provided. Please get in contact with us, or indicate in your RSVP, if you require additional interpretation or accessibility features.

If you cannot make October’s call, but would like to be on the list for future dates, please email sluo@api-gbv.org.

Click here to RSVP!

Past Events

Bridges: A Connect Call for Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Addressing Gender-Based Violence

Bridges: A Connect Call for Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Addressing Gender-Based Violence

Next call: October 25, 2022 (9am HST / 12pm PST / 3pm CST / 3pm EST)

These bi-monthly community connect calls are intended to be a space for AANHPI advocates, community members, and allies to connect, dialogue, share successes, problem solve, and network. API-GBV staff will be available to moderate and encourage discussion, but this is a space for YOU, as the experts of this work, to share your experiences and to learn from allies across the country.

October’s theme: Navigating the Grants Process

With several current federal grants opening soon, is your organization well positioned to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities? October’s Bridges Connect Call will be a space to discuss the opportunities and challenges around grants, from federal to foundation. Please bring your questions and be prepared to share your experiences or strategies related to applying for or managing grants, the organizational structures or processes that support grants management, and other related topics.

You will also hear about two current opportunities: Program Specialists from OVW Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Program will provide an overview of the LAV program with a focus on the special funding initiative, the Expanding Legal Services Initiative. LAV program staff will review its purpose, eligibility, priority areas, and some general information about the application process. A Q&A session will follow. API-GBV staff will also provide information about our new ARP Support for Survivors grant program, which will support community-based, culturally-specific organizations serving survivors of violence.

 

ASL interpretation and live captioning provided.


Other details:

Meetings will be hosted on Zoom, and you are encouraged to join with video and voice to the extent that you are comfortable. These calls will not be recorded, but we may share takeaways, without identifying information, with our staff or community. ASL interpretation and captioning will be provided. Please get in contact with us, or indicate in your RSVP, if you require additional interpretation or accessibility features.

If you cannot make October’s call, but would like to be on the list for future dates, please email sluo@api-gbv.org.

Click here to RSVP!

Public Charge Final Rule: How will it impact immigrant survivors?

Public Charge Final Rule: How will it impact immigrant survivors?

10/12/22 at 12:00 – 1:00pm PST

On September 8, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final Public Charge rule, to go into effect on December 23, 2022. The rule strengthens public charge policies that had been in effect since March 2021, which describes which persons may be determined a “public charge” and thereby denied admission or lawful permanent residency to the U.S.

In this webinar, API-GBV’s Director of Policy, Grace Huang, walked participants through the provisions under the public charge final rule; the circumstances under which survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking may be exempt; and the supports and options available to immigrants survivors and their families.

Related Resources

Hosted by API-GBV featuring Grace Huang, Directory of Policy at API-GBV

October 2022

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View Slides
Read Our Advisory
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AAPI Creatives’ Chat – Masculinity, Fear, and Self Worth with Amanda Chen

AAPI Creatives’ Chat – Masculinity, Fear, and Self Worth with Amanda Chen

9/27/22 at 12:00 – 1:00pm PST

API-GBV is excited to welcome Amanda Chen to the first of our ‘AAPI Creatives’ Conversations. Amanda Chen is a serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker that has always been passionate about discussing concepts of gender, identity and self worth. She hosted the 100 Masked Men podcast series, during which she interviewed 100 anonymous men about sex and relationships, masculinity and everything in between. Join us to learn about some of Amanda’s biggest Aha! moments from these 100 conversations, what it means to be an advocate for social justice through a non-traditional medium, and what her most recent endeavors into self-reflection can teach us about combating burnout in this work.

You can learn more about Amanda at missamandachen.com.

Related Resources

Hosted by API-GBV and featuring Amanda Chen

September 2022

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API-GBV welcomes protections for immigrant survivors under the final public charge rule

September 8, 2022

This morning, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final Public Charge rule. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register for public inspection tomorrow, September 9th  and will go into effect December 23rd. Although the rule does not reflect all of the recommendations that we urged to support survivors during the rulemaking process, we commend DHS for moving forward with provisions that make life-saving support accessible to immigrant survivors of violence. API-GBV will continue to work with our partner organizations, DHS, and the administration to strengthen these supports and contribute to an immigration system that protects, rather than discriminates against, immigrants who are experiencing gender-based violence.

The rule primarily adopts the 1999 Interim Field Guidance. Some of these are briefly described below: 

  • Accessing cash assistance for income maintenance and institutionalization (including state funded benefits) will be considered in looking at the totality of circumstances in a public charge determination. This means receipt of cash benefit programs like TANF, SSI, and state General Assistance programs that look at income to determine eligibility will be considered as part of the test. Other cash programs, like short-term emergency benefits, or earned benefits like unemployment compensation or non-governmental grants are not included. Immigrant survivors should be encouraged to access health, food, housing benefits and other supports they need to overcome the harm they’ve experienced.
  • The rule lists out the categories of individuals that are exempt from the public charge rule including VAWA Self Petitioners, and U- and T- visa holders (in current status), as well as refugees, asylees, and those with Temporary Protected Status, Special Immigrant Juvenile status, among others.
  • The recipient of benefits is clarified to only apply to the person seeking status, and not their children or other household members who are not seeking to be admitted. Recipients of benefits do not include those who applied but did not receive benefits, such as parents who apply for their US Citizen children.
  • The rule spells out the statutory factors to be considered (i.e. age, family status, income, health, education, availability of a valid Affidavit of Support) in examining the totality of circumstances to be considered if one is likely to become a public charge.

API-GBV and our partners will continue to work with DHS to support survivor-supportive language as they develop policy guidance for immigration officers and new forms to implement the rule.

API-GBV will be holding a webinar to clarify some of the rule’s provisions in the next few months. You can also find general updates and information from the Protecting Immigrant Families campaign.

ARP Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault from Culturally Specific Populations Grant Program

ARP Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault from Culturally Specific Populations Grant Program

** Update 2/2/23:**

Given revised guidance from the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) Program, API-GBV will now award up to 40 grants for both DV and SA, totaling close to $12 million USD! Applicants may submit either DV, SA, or combined (DV/SA) projects for consideration, and an applicant can apply for a grant up to $300,000 USD for two years. Once awarded, API-GBV will administer and monitor all grants. API-GBV will also collaborate with NAPIESV to provide capacity strengthening and training and technical assistance in the areas of DV and SA, respectively.

The following changes have been made to the DV/SA Capacity Building Fund application:

    • Deadline to submit applications – The deadline has been changed from December 23, 2022 to January 13, 2023.
    • Work plan and budget templates updated – The project workplan and budget templates provided below now accommodate dual (DV/SA) organizations and project proposals.
    • Financial form attachment – In addition to the budget template, applicants must complete and upload the financial form found below
    • Additional examples of how funds can be used  – Additional examples of how funds can be used have been provided and divided into 4 scope of work focus areas:
  1. Culturally specific supportive services for AANPI and ME survivors;
  2. Virtual services and data security that attend to the needs of AANHPI and ME survivors;
  3. Meeting emergent and culturally specific services needs of AANHPI and ME survivors impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency;
  4. Workforce expansions and capacity building for AANHPI- and ME-specific DV and SA programs.

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill designed to speed up America’s recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the passage of this bill, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) program received a historic increase in supplemental funding for domestic violence shelters, supportive services, tribes, sexual assault programs, and culturally specific programs.

In support of sexual assault (SA) and domestic violence (DV) survivors, this funding provides a total of $49.5 million for the FVPSA program to support culturally specific services. The Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence (API-GBV) along with our colleagues — Esperanza United, the National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community/UJIMA, Inc., the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC), and the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center (AKNWRC) — will utilize our expertise, networks, and resources  to provide technical assistance and support to local, community-based culturally specific programs that serve survivors from our respective cultural communities.

About the ARP Support for Survivors Program

The Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence (API-GBV) was awarded $13.2 million through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) under the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) to distribute this funding to culturally specific organizations that serve domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) survivors. 

Working in partnership with SA training and technical assistance provider, the National Organization of Asians and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence (NAPIESV), our collective goal is to support culturally specific community-based organizations in providing culturally specific activities that: 

  • Address the emergent needs of survivors and the programs that serve them, resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
  • Promote strategic partnership development and collaboration in responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency on survivors of DV and SA.

The ARP Support for Survivors Program aims to prevent, prepare, and respond to the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on survivors from Asian/Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI), and Middle Eastern (ME) communities in the U.S. Subgrants under the ARP Support for Survivors Program will be equally distributed between DV and SA projects, and organizations may apply for DV funding, SA funding, or a combination of both. 

Program Details

Under the ARP Support for Survivors Program, API-GBV will distribute, monitor, and manage subgrants through the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Capacity Building Fund to assist culturally specific organizations providing DV and SA services in AANHPI and ME communities in the United States and U.S. territories. Subgrants will be accompanied by programmatic training and technical assistance from API-GBV to DV grantees and NAPIESV to SA grantees, while the administration of the funding will be conducted by API-GBV.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (DV/SA) Capacity Building Fund

  • Up to $300,000 over a two-year project period (April 2023 – March 2025) per subaward
  • Up to 40 subawards will be distributed to DV and SA programs or “ARP subgrantees”
  • Purpose: support the provision of services developed by culturally specific, community-based DV and SA programs implementing culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate programs, services, and supports for individuals and families from Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S.

Grant Application How-To Guide

Grant Application User Account Registration (Required to access online application)

Online Application

Request for Proposals (RFP) Announcement (Updated 12/5/22!)

 Application FAQ

Informational Session Recording and Slides

Grant Writing 101 Webinar Recording and Slides

Grant Application How-To Video

Budget Template

Budget Template for Dual Orgs & Proposals (New!)

Financial Form

Sample Work Plan Template (Updated 12/16/22!)

Eligibility

  1. Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS but are fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit who has 501(c)(3) status (culturally specific fiscal sponsors are preferred);
  2. Whose primary purpose is providing culturally specific services to Asian/Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern communities residing in the continental United States, Hawaiʻi, and U.S. territories;
  3. Have demonstrated ability in providing supportive services (often referred to as “direct services”).

Eligible community-based organizations with projects that seek to collaborate with other organization(s) are encouraged to apply. In the case of partnership proposals, only one eligible community-based organization should apply as lead applicant.

Scope of Proposed Projects

API-GBV and NAPIESV will select community-based programs that are responsive to the needs of Asian/Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern survivors of DV and SA and their dependents residing in the continental U.S., Hawaiʻi, and the U.S. territories. API-GBV and NAPIESV invite proposals focused on: 

  1. Culturally specific supportive services for AANHPI and ME survivors;
  2. Virtual services and data security that attend to the needs of AANHPI and ME survivors; 
  3. Meeting emergent and culturally specific services needs of AANHPI and ME survivors impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency;
  4. Workforce expansions and capacity building for AANHPI- and ME-specific DV and SA programs.

 

Key Dates

  • Announcement of DV/SA Capacity Building Fund RFP, Online Application Opens: November 4, 2022
  • Informational webinars
  • Grant Writing 101 webinar
  • Announcement of Revised Guidance and RFP: December 6, 2022
  • Applications due: January 13, 2023 at 11:59pm PST
  • Review of applications: January 16, 2023 – January 27, 2023
  • Applicants notified of status of application: By March 3, 2023
  • DV/SA Capacity Building Fund Project Period: April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2025

Technical Assistance

API-GBV staff are available to provide technical assistance on the application process. As national culturally specific resource centers on domestic violence and sexual assault, API-GBV and NAPIESV staff will provide technical assistance throughout the project period. Subrecipients under the ARP Support for Survivors Program  will be provided: 

  • One-on-one, specialized technical assistance; 
  • Access to online training and educational resources;
  • A virtual learning community and regular peer support meetings with ARP subgrantees in the program;
  • Opportunity for all ARP subgrantees and ARP Support for Survivors Program staff to convene at least once in-person (if public health regulations permit) during the project period
  • Guidance on reporting, evaluation, and special topics as needed

Contact Information

Submit questions and requests for assistance with the application process to ARPsupport@api-gbv.org. Visit www.api-gbv.org/arpsupport for more information about the ARP Support for Survivors Program. Sign up for email updates about the program at www.api-gbv.org/listserv.

    Centering AANHPI Survivors: Recommendations for Campus and Title IX Administrators

    Centering AANHPI Survivors: Recommendations for Campus and Title IX Administrators

    This summary report lifts up the experiences and needs of Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students and staff who face dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, or sexual harassment on campus. While focused on experiences of survivors on college campuses, the findings and recommendations may also have implications for AANHPI students in the context of K-12 schools. Many thanks to the AANHPI survivors and advocates who were willing to share their experiences and insights with API-GBV!

    Related Resources

    Mia Bladin and Grace Huang, J.D.

    August 2022

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