SPOKANE, Wash. — Local non-profit Mujeres in Action (M.i.A.) celebrated the grand opening of a new mental health program for Latine survivors during Mental Health Awareness Month.
Spokane County has the highest rate of reported domestic violence cases in Washington state. This new program aims to break barriers to mental health care for the Latine community who are survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
“The Latine community here in Spokane has little services that are available in their language and understand the culture,” said Monica Rey Serantes, the mental health counselor for the program.
Language Services
The program offers counseling in both English and Spanish, which is crucial for effective therapy.
Rey Serantes explained why direct communication matters: “It’s not the same to have therapy through an interpreter or a translator. That consumes a lot of time, and there’s another person listening to that conversation and translating and trying to figure out the meaning of what you’re saying.”
Access to Care
M.I.A. offers telehealth services for those who can’t visit their facility in person.
They accept insurance and can help uninsured survivors through grant funding.
“We are seeing that there’s barriers and fears to accessing services,” said Ana Trusty, M.I.A.’s Executive Director.
Safety Measures
The facility features locked doors and security cameras to monitor visitors.
“We are also deemed as a confidential resource because of that DV/SA work that we do, so we do not share information with law enforcement with any government agency,” Trusty said.
Cultural Connection
Staff members share the same cultural background as the people they serve.
“We have that basic understanding, and then being able to speak the language just makes you feel like you’re back at home,” Trusty said.
Additional Support
Beyond mental health counseling, M.I.A. provides advocates who help survivors with court filings and other needs.
For more information about Mujeres in Action and their services, call 509-869-0876.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
