(RALEIGH)  --  Latinos are the fastest growing population in the United States, and they also have relatively high rates of domestic violence. A new study from North Carolina State University finds Latino religious leaders are willing to help address the problem. Doctor Natalie Ames at NC State is the author of the study.

"They're well aware that [domestic violence] occurs in their congregations and among families that they know, and they feel it would be appropriate for them to intervene but don't know how to go out it."

Doctor Ames says it's important that outreach efforts emphasize the religious and cultural importance of keeping families together. The study found forming partnerships with church leaders could significantly boost outreach efforts by social workers and others because, while the Latino community is a diverse one, there are some shared characteristics that can pose challenges.

"Anybody who wants to work with this community needs to understand that most Latino's value family, keeping family together.  Some of that is culture driven and some of that is driven by religious beliefs. But if you want to work with these folks, it's really important to understand that.

And while church leaders are willing to help address the problem of domestic violence in the Latino communitiy, Dr. Ames says, "If [someone in the community] needs help and [their] primary language is Spanish, they might hesitate to use community resources."  Ames says they resoning behind the hesistation is fear that the call for help would be lost intranslation. She says the language barrier remains a major obstacle.