Youth Program: Prevention and Intervention
Monsoon is the only culturally specific organization in Iowa with a program dedicated to preventing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking. Mainstream organizations offering prevention programs and victim services often struggle to meet the needs of API teens due to their limited understanding of API individuals’ histories, identities, and cultural beliefs—particularly the cultural factors that contribute to the silencing of victims, especially youth. Refugee adolescents, in particular, fear reporting abuse, sharing their families’ distrust of authorities due to past experiences in conflict zones. This fear, combined with reluctance to disclose victimization to parents, elders, or school officials and a lack of knowledge about safe resources, can perpetuate trauma.
Established in 2008, Monsoon’s Youth Violence Prevention Program, funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health, focuses on sexual violence prevention. While the program is youth-led and youth-implemented, it currently refers victims to Monsoon’s adult-focused services, where family members are considered “secondary victims.” This creates a service gap that could be addressed by trained advocates specializing in youth victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, stalking, and sex trafficking, as well as children of adult survivors receiving separate, tailored support. Some overlap of services may be necessary to ensure a holistic approach and avoid compartmentalization.
Funding from the OVW Children & Youth Program enables Monsoon to serve API children and young adults (ages 11-24) affected by domestic and sexual violence. These survivor-centered, culturally relevant, and age-appropriate services include crisis advocacy and counseling, legal assistance, family relationship support, education and employment guidance, access to affordable housing, mentorship, medical and mental health referrals, and transportation. Collectively, these services aim to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social impacts of trauma on youth victims of gender-based violence.