NAPRHSW Travels to Dominican Republic
in February 2006, Meets with Social
Workers at Instituto Tecnologico
by Sonia Palacio-Grottola, LCSW
DURING OUR EIGHT DAY TOUR OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, NAPRHSW attended a two day conference entitled “Violencia de Genero e Intrafamiliar, Migracion Haitiana y Trabajo Social” sponsored by Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo (INTEC). We thank Enilda Columna who made the arrangements with Yildalina Taten Brache, Directora de Politicas Publicas — Secretaria de Estado de la Mujer y Docente de INTEC.
INTEC greeted our group warmly with greetings from Senor Rector Miguel Escala and other dignitaries. NAPRHSW made a presentation of the history of the Association, our mission, accomplishments, and goals. INTEC’S workshops included a presentation regarding the positive experience of reducing workplace violence, family violence and gender violence. On the second day, presentations were made regarding the Haitian migration and the issues associated with this problem. It was stated that these issues are not so different than those experienced in the United States. However, we learned that Haitians may migrate to the Dominican Republic to work but must return to Haiti for all services including health and education. A child of Haitian parents born in the Dominican Republic will not receive a birth certificate.
The most interesting part of our trip was a visit to one of the many clinics for women and children that have experienced sexual abuse and/or domestic violence. These centers are new and they are planned for every province. This center was unique as it included the office for registering the complaints, the medical clinic for immediate evaluation of sexual/physical abuse, legal services, safe housing for the victims and the immediate arrest of the perpetrator by the police. The social workers, doctors, lawyers and the police worked closely in this center. After a tour of the clinic and talking to many of the patients and staff, we were very happy to donate items of over the counter medicines, pharmacy items, writing materials, and children’s clothing which we had brought with us from the United States. The best and lasting experience is the interchange and networking that we accomplished during this visit with the social workers, students, and other professionals. NAPRHSW provided certificates of attendance to the group.
We toured the old and new sections of Santo Domingo and spent several days on the shores of Punta Cana.
The NAPRHSW social workers and professionals that visited D.R. included, Eva Padilla, LMSW, Eleanor Ponce, LCSW and Emery Francis, Psychologist from Brentwood School District in NY. In addition, Angelina Martinez, LCSW and Manuel Martinez, CEO of Utopia Home Care, Kings Park, NY, Pauline Velazquez, MSW, Catherine Carballeira, LCSW, Ph.D. Candidate, Monserrate Montalvo, LCSW, from Weston, Florida, Dr. Luis Alberto and Goni Rivera of NYC, Leopoldina Portela, Antonio Perez and Carmina Lombas, Directors of Amigos de la Zarzuela, Enilda Columna, NYC and Dr. Mary Jo Blazek, Professor at University of Maine.
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