When University of Illinois School of Social Work PhD student Erika La Frano began her career as a clinician, she witnessed firsthand the struggles immigrant women face when seeking help after intimate partner violence (IPV). Her clients encountered barriers that extended far beyond the violence itself, including language differences, cultural stigma, lack of legal knowledge, isolation from community, and financial stress.

“These stories of hardship and resilience opened my eyes,” Erika recalls. “They inspired my desire to raise awareness about the challenges women face and the opportunities to improve the lives of immigrant women, as well as the communities in which they live.”

Those early experiences became the foundation of Erika’s doctoral research. Her recent publication in JMIR Publications Advancing Digital Health and Open Science lays out a systematic review protocol to study how IPV interventions work for Latina immigrants in the United States. The project, titled Domains of Access for Interventions Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Among Latina Immigrants, asks a critical question: do current interventions truly remove barriers and make services accessible to those who need them most?

At the heart of her study is something called the Access to Care Framework. This framework looks at whether people can realistically use services based on factors like cost, transportation, language, and cultural fit. For Latina immigrants, these barriers can mean the difference between getting support or remaining in unsafe situations. “When services are not culturally or linguistically responsive, survivors may feel unsafe or misunderstood,” Erika explains. “This reduces their trust and willingness to engage.”

To answer these questions, Erika and her research team are reviewing nearly 1,000 studies and interventions. The work is challenging, not only because of the sheer volume of information but also because of the cultural nuance required. “Managing the scope and variability of the literature has been the most challenging part,” she says. “But it has also encouraged me to think more critically about the unique barriers faced by Latina immigrants and the opportunities for positive change.”

Erika hopes her findings will have a ripple effect in both practice and policy. By identifying the strategies that make interventions more accessible, her research can guide programs to address specific needs such as transportation, childcare, or immigration concerns. “Together, these changes can help Latina immigrant survivors feel safer and more supported, facilitating the healing process,” she says.

Now in her third year of the PhD program, Erika sees this research as more than just an academic milestone. It is the beginning of a career dedicated to advancing immigrant health equity and shaping community-based, evidence-informed policies. “This project strengthens my focus on immigrant health equity and equips me with the skills to evaluate interventions,” she reflects. “Ultimately, I hope to inform policies that increase access to care for immigrant survivors.”