In 1992 a domestic violence murder / suicide incident in Seattle's Filipinx community and the 1995 murders of 3 Filipina Americans inside King County Courthouse in Seattle coalesced the Filipinx community into action. The forefront of the struggle against domestic violence, sexual, and human trafficking. Filipino Domestic Violence Education Committee (FDVEC), FDVEC included Filipina members of the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Safety Center's is now known as API Chaya board as well as other Filipinx community members. FDVEC's objective was to organize and educate about domestic violence within the diverse Filipinx community. As a result, Emma Catague and FDVEC formed the Natural Helper program. The Natural Helper model raises awareness about issues of violence by educating friends, families, and community members to help prevent and intervene in interpersonal forms of violence. These Natural Helpers are trained as critical community supports for survivors on their healing paths toward self-sufficiency. Without community support, survivors are isolated and less likely to break the cycle of violence.

FDVEC later became Filipinx Against Violence (FA V), continues to build Natural Helpers and increase community members' awareness and advocacy skills to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Emma serves as FCS Program Supervisor, which includes overseeing FAV and coordinating the CMC with Mother Nation and Casa Latina.

Emma and FAV have also worked closely with former Washington State Representative Velma Veloria, Dr. Supata Basu (Executive Director, University of Washington Women's Center), and Norma Timbang (professor of Social Work) on policy advocacy in support of survivors. Their work began around supporting vulnerable Filipinas who were survivors of labor and sex trafficking. Over time, these efforts evolved into human trafficking awareness, education and legislation. In 2003 former Representative Veloria sponsored HB 1175, which became the first bill in the nation to criminalize human trafficking at the state level.

According to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey, one in every four (or 26%) ever-married women aged 15-49 had ever experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by their husband or partner.