The purpose of this project was to design a program, identify potential funding sources, and write a grant to fund peer mentors/advocates for women and their families with a history of domestic violence. An extensive literature review was performed to increase the knowledge of the grant seeker and to further explore the prevalence and characteristics of peer mentors/advocates for victims of domestic violence. Potential grants to fund the program were sought through the Children and Youth Exposed to Violence Grant Program of the Office of Violence Against Women.

The goal of peer mentors/advocates would be to teach the victims to become their own advocates so that they feel empowered and better able to break away from the cycle of violence and to enable them to break away from their abusive relationships.

If funded, this program would support the peer mentors/advocates integrated into transitional housing for women and their families.