COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES
Culturally and Linguistically Specific Advocacy and Case Management
Arabic, Bangla, Cantonese, Chiu Chau/Teochew, Filipino, Gujarati, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Manipuri, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Thai, Taishanese, Taiwanese, Toisanese, Urdu, and Vietnamese (as of March 2025)
Providing links between domestic violence survivors and critical resources, our advocates are cultural brokers for clients. They serve as interpreters and translators, and help clients navigate unfamiliar customs and systems. Each client works with an advocate who helps with accessing services, enabling clients to have a permanent home, education, healthcare, employment, public benefits, a secure immigration status, and safety. When clients are living in a violent situation, advocates ensure that they have a safety plan; have someone to contact when they need help; and have the ability to call 911 and confidently access resources on their own.
Each client works with an advocate who helps with accessing services such as:
- Crisis intervention
- Safety planning
- Legal and immigration advocacy
- Medical and healthcare advocacy
- Housing advocacy
- ESOL classes
- Referrals
All services are provided free of charge.
Our advocacy philosophy is to educate clients about their rights and available resources and to empower them to use this information to make positive decisions for themselves and their children. Our services are based on a holistic approach, which addresses the large range of clients’ needs. Because we provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care, we build trust with clients and create an atmosphere of safety, respect, and understanding. This environment helps our clients heal from abuse and rebuild their lives.
Our Programs
CBS Lowell
Culturally and Linguistically Specific Advocacy and Case Management in Khmer, Thai, Lao, and English
In 1997, as a response to the critical need for multilingual and culturally relevant services for Asian families and individuals affected by domestic violence in the Greater Lowell area, ATASK launched the Lowell Asian Initiative Against Domestic Violence (previously Lowell Asian Project Against Domestic Violence).
Lowell is home to the second largest Cambodian community in the United States. Similar to ATASK’s Boston programs, the Lowell Asian Initiative Against Domestic Violence offers advocacy, outreach, trainings, assistance and referrals to the Greater Lowell area, with a specific focus on providing culturally appropriate services to meet the highly sensitive needs of Cambodian survivors and families.
Each client works with an advocate who helps with accessing services such as:
- Crisis intervention
- Safety planning
- Legal and immigration advocacy
- Medical and healthcare advocacy
- Housing advocacy
- ESOL classes
- Referrals
To learn more about advocacy and case management services in the Merrimack Valley, contact:
Savda Keo
Senior Advocate/Case Manager
savda@atask.org
978-454-3651 x252
or call our 24-hour multilingual HELPLINE: 617-338-2355
Language Access Program (LAP)
ATASK’s Language Access Program is the first of its kind in New England. Launched in May 2016, the Language Access Program has enabled ATASK to provide comprehensive domestic violence services to un-served and underserved Asian communities in Massachusetts. ATASK has recruited and trained bicultural and bilingual staff to work as paid Client Navigators to improve access to ATASK’s services and the quality of services for their communities.
Our Client Navigators provide critical language and cultural support for clients by interpreting and bridging communication between clients and Advocates; fostering life skills; providing emotional support throughout a client’s journey; and accompanying clients to meetings and appointments.
The Language Access Program is serving the following languages:
- Korean
- Thai
- Cantonese
The program’s vision is to expand services to additional language groups based on communities’ self-identified needs, ensuring that under-served communities have equal access to culturally competent domestic violence services while also expanding ATASK’s ability to serve our clients.