The research and evaluation (r & e) initiative is authorized by 34 USC 12291(b)(7), which permits OVW to set aside up to three percent of available funds from most OVW programs to conduct…

The research and evaluation (r & e) initiative is authorized by 34 USC 12291(b)(7), which permits OVW to set aside up to three percent of available funds from most OVW programs to conduct evaluations of promising practices for combatting domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to research problems emerging in the field. By generating more knowledge about strategies for serving victims and holding offenders accountable, communities that benefit from violence against women act (vawa) funding will be better equipped to align their work with practices that are known to be effective, and they will be more capable of building empirical knowledge on the efficacy of new and promising ways of making communities safer and more just. This mixed-methods study will examine the occupational and economic needs and experiences of domestic violence victim advocates and will use its findings to adapt and pilot for advocates an innovative economic empowerment program for which preliminary research has found positive impacts for survivors, including enhanced financial management and related attitudes and behaviors. Pilot testing of the adapted program will assess its feasibility and acceptability, as well as outcomes related to professional self-efficacy for advocates, personal progress, economic self-efficacy, quality of life, coping strategies, financial management attitudes, and financial knowledge. Findings will inform strategies for improving work and personal conditions for advocates as well as efforts to expand economic justice and financial advocacy for survivors by better equipping advocates to address these needs among survivors.