A Family Impact Analysis: How Does Local, Grassroots Policy Impact Latinas and Their Families?

Background & Purpose: Many organizations designed to support women who are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) utilize empowerment and leadership models. One grassroots organization in a large California city is led by Latina immigrants and seeks to grow personal and community power to achieve social and economic justice. As a member-led organization, their decision-making policy and process are meant to empower members and create leadership opportunities. Given the cultural significance of family for Latinas, this study sought to understand the effects of the organization’s decision-making policy on them and their families.

Methods: Ten participants were interviewed with open-ended questions. Interviews generally lasted 45 minutes and were in person. I utilized a family impact analysis methodology. This methodology consists of the family impact checklist and qualitative methods to analyze policies or programs and the extent to which they do or do not support families. The five family impact principles are: family responsibility, family stability, family relationships, family diversity, and family engagement.

Results: Of the five family impact principles, one needed improvement. The second principle, family stability, calls on policies and practices to reinforce family relationships and commitments during major changes that require ongoing support. Participants and their families were facing major challenges related to immigration. The reality of current xenophobic policies and practices were very relevant to the sample of participants as they described their own lives and their families’.

Conclusion & Implications: Family members provide support to one another in many ways, and they thrive when policies around them are supportive. Therefore, I recommended the organization consider the following:

1. At the following annual member retreat, the organization should openly discuss the needs of their members and families under the ongoing immigration raids.
2. When providing orientations for new members, it should be made explicit that members' voice matters, and in the future, they will be required to participate in the decision-making process.
3. Members who have participated in the committee with the board of directors should offer an informational session for members who are interested in participating.
4. The organization should seek direct anonymous feedback from family members to gain a clearer understanding of the effect they have on families.

All study participants identified as IPV survivors. When they joined the organization, their experiences making decisions were controlled by external factors such as fear of the person who caused them harm, fear of disclosure, immigration status, and the overall family’s wellbeing. As part of the organization, they begin to engage in a different type of decision-making process where they believe their families are being empowered too, "For my family? Well, empowerment, because the woman gives the family the example, our traditions - how to educate themselves, how to find a partner, that we are a family always, and to help each other.” Every family’s voice contributes to the flourishing of society.