Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Presenting the Facts on Domestic Violence

March 21, 2024

Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, held a workshop on Domestic Abuse and Violence. Statistics in the United States show that nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. In one year, there are more than 10 million women and men abused. We know how important it is to educate people to be aware of the signs of abuse and hopefully help to prevent some people from being abused.

Digna Merchan, MSW, a former social work intern at St. Cabrini Nursing Home and CIS in Dobbs Ferry, presented the workshop. She spoke about what domestic violence is, the different types of violence, the causes, the mental and physical effects on the person, etc. Rocio Soria Morales, a social work intern at CIS, spoke about the impact of domestic violence on children. She presented how witnessing domestic violence effects the child both physically and emotionally. It also has a great impact on their future.

In addition, everyone received a folder filled with information about places that assist domestic violence victims, hotlines to call, places that will assist with legal services, etc.

Cabrini University Domestic Violence Symposium Honors Jordan Center

November 2, 2023

Cabrini’s Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education held its 13th Annual Domestic Violence Education Symposium in October on Cabrini’s campus. This year’s symposium honored the leadership of Barbara (HON’08) and John Jordan, the Center’s founders, and Director Colleen Lelli, EdD (’95), Professor of Education, as well as the Center’s many partners and friends.

Lynn Rosenthal, Director of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence for the US Department of Health and Human Services and longtime friend of the Center, served as keynote speaker and received its Resiliency and Advocacy Award.

“Walking into this room this morning, I was so overcome by this feeling,” she said. “It is that education with love, it is that heart of love, it is that common ground, it is that sense of community that Cabrini has given as a gift to the world.”

Rosenthal recalled that when she first met the Jordans in the White House years ago, she was impressed by their clarity of mission: to help children who had experienced the trauma of domestic violence.

“They were perfectly clear that we all had a role to play in ending this violence,” she said.

Before the program concluded, Barbara and John Jordan offered an emotional address.
“To Colleen and your Cabrini team, you are our heroes,” said John Jordan, speaking about the importance of the Center’s outreach and noting that 1 in 3 families are touched by domestic violence and 1 in 5 girls are sexually abused (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). “All of us involved with the Jordan Center share a common bond with a goal to end domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.”

The symposium ended with words of appreciation from Lelli to the Cabrini community, the Center’s community partners, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, her students, and the Jordans.
“Thank you to the masterminds behind designing [the Jordan Center] and walking alongside us as a community every step of the way,” she said of the Jordans. “You’re both always in my heart.”

All is well! Well, actually, not always.

May 28, 2020

We hear so many heartwarming stories about family experiences during this stay-at-home time: parents having more time to spend with children; families reaching out together to help others in need; families finding that cooking, playing games, creative crafting and movie watching is bringing them closer together.

But there are other stories as well…stories of dysfunction, tension and even violence…ABUSE. And when abuse rears its ugly head, safety is not always possible. For some, there are family members or even agencies that can help.

For immigrants, however, the situation may be more tenuous. There is often a lack of resources and support; fear of financial insecurity or inability to find a job as a single parent; limited childcare options. Sometimes it’s a matter of difficulty because of language, and trust and ability to reach out.

Often, it’s a concern because of immigration/citizenship status…fear of hurting their progress in their status seeking, or worse, fear of detention or deportation.

In this unstable time, all of us need to keep our eyes, our minds and our hearts open to the needs of our families, yes, but also to the situations of the most vulnerable around us. If we are safe and secure, how can we reach out to others without overstepping privacy boundaries? Can we offer a listening ear, information about services available, trusting concern, encouragement? Knowing that “someone out there” cares, knowing there is someone who will listen and not judge may be the one support needed to help someone through a very frightening, insecure situation amidst all the chaos going on in the world at this time.

Safe houses and shelters are still functioning in these days but at limited capacity. Sometimes a hotel room is offered as a temporary shelter. It’s good to find out what is available in your area, to be able to offer a glimmer of hope to someone………or for your own information.

Our Mission Calls Us to Awareness and Action

November 6, 2019

Our Cabrinian mission calls us to reach out to others, especially the marginalized, the outcasts and the less-fortunate. We need to be a haven for them to feel safe, to feel the love of God. We live at a time where fear and abuses are rampant. It’s hard to believe that in this day and age, human slavery still exists, people fear that they will be deported and separated from their children, and the number of reported violent crimes has risen.

Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, wanted to reach out to its clients and to some members of the community. During October, we held three different presentations: Domestic Violence (DV), Know Your Rights (KYR) and Anti-Human Trafficking. All three topics have staggering statistics. The presentations on DV and KYR were done by CIS staff and the Anti-Human Trafficking was done by Olga Brandenberger, a Senior Case Manager at Catholic Charities, and Jessica Beladino, a Children and Youth Counselor from Hope’s Door. This presentation was offered to our adult tutors and some members of the Dobbs Ferry community.

As hard as these topics are, it is important for us to be aware that these horrors exist in our world, in our state and in our neighborhoods. Education is power. We need to do all we can to get the word out there. We need to do all we can to protect the victims of these horrendous crimes.

Stop Domestic Violence

October 5, 2017

The statistics are staggering. Every 9 seconds a woman in the US is either beaten or assaulted; more than 3 women a day in the US are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends; domestic violence victims lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the US; the costs of intimate partner violence in the US exceeds $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion on direct medical and health care services and $1.8 billion per year for productivity losses. This horrible crime affects everyone. For those who are not US citizens or may be undocumented and living in this country, they face yet another fear. If they report the abuse to the authorities, they are risking deportation, which may also result in separation from their children.

Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, offered Part 1 of a two part series. On September 26^th, a ‘Know Your Rights for Domestic Violence’ workshop was held. The workshop was given in English and Spanish. It was presented by Bertha Diaz, MSW, a former intern at CIS. The participants left CIS with a wealth of information about their rights and also about safe places that they may contact.

We also want to educate our Cabrini Kids about domestic violence. They will be making packets for domestic violence victims. On October 20^th, the children will be putting items such as combs, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner into a bag that will be donated to an agency that assists victims. These packets will not only be given to people who are victims but also to those who are in transition to safe houses. It gives them a few items to help them get started in their new surroundings.

In October, CIS will offer the second part of the series, a workshop on Sexual Assault. Ms. Diaz will return to do the presentation.