Mission
Our mission is to prevent violence against survivors of abuse from marginalized populations within the Asian American and MENA community in Houston and across the nation, while working to strengthen and promote equal and healthy family relations.
We accomplish our mission through public awareness, support systems, community empowerment and collaborations with organizations sharing similar goals.
Domestic violence is a hidden reality in these communities despite the mainstream's perception of these communities as the “Model Minority”, who are highly educated and hard working people. AADA bridges the gap in providing services to this community by addressing issues that would otherwise be kept behind closed doors.
Vision
Since 2001, AADA provides resources and assistance for domestic abused women from countries in Asia & MENA region who reside in Houston and neighboring counties. Our vision is to promote equal and healthy family relationships within these communities through public awareness, support systems, empowerment, and collaborations with organizations sharing similar goals.
What We Do
Legal Advocacy
Court Accompaniment
Victims of Crime Advocacy
Group & Individual Counseling Sessions
Support Groups
Housing
Employment Coaching
Financial Literacy
Financial Support
Vocational Training
Children Programs
We serve women with Asian, Middle Eastern and North African decent, fight against their domestic abuse in Houston and across the United States.
Languages We Speak from the Region
Arabic
Turkish
Turkic Languages
Farsi
Japanese
Korean
Mandarin
Vietnamese
Urdu
Hindi
Gujarati
Malayalam
Malay
Punjabi
Marawi
Challenges and Obstacles Our Victims Face
Violence
Seeking help outside of the family if abused is perceived as a disgrace to the family. The victim may be humiliated, blamed, ostracized and/or put on the street.
Mistrust
Lack of support and legal protection in their countries of origin cause many victims to mistrust uniformed authorities, preventing them from seeking help from police or utilizing the justice system.
Ostracized
Women who leave their abusive spouse risk being ostracized from their entire community and support system.
Misinformed & Manipulated
Victims have been isolated by their batterers and are unaware about the community resources available to them to get help.
Solitude
many of our women are war or conflict refugees who often have no surviving relatives except their abusive spouse, meaning any decision to leave will sever their last remaining tie to their new formed family.
Language Limitations
Non-existent or poor English language skills and illiteracy in their native languages make it difficult to build new lives in Houston and across the United States. Many mainstream help service agencies present cultural and linguistic barriers to Asian & MENA families.