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Peace Mentors

The Peace Mentors Program: TeenPEACE (Teen Project to End Abuse through Counseling and Education) is a psycho-educational group for teens 12-18 years old who are experiencing violence in relationships.  These relationships include intimate partner, parents, peers, and siblings.

The group consists of 5-15 teens that come together weekly for 12 weeks.  The groups are designed to help participants explore the source of violence in their relationships.  They share ideas and strategies that might prove useful in their own situation.

Power and control are central to relationships that are experiencing difficulties.  How this is expressed in relationships is the focus of our group.  Coping with stress, negotiation, teamwork, what it means to be a man and a woman, and the role of substance misuse is how we perceive things are some of the topics covered in the group.

The goal of TeenPEACE is to help young men and women learn skills that will reduce the level of violence in their relationships.  TeenPEACE is NOT anger management.  It is about relationships and needs.  It is designed to give young men and women ways to get their needs met without violence.  To sign up for the Peace Mentor program or for more information, please contact Tara Dowd or Alex Low @ (509)325-5502.

What are the eligibility Requirements?

• Young men and women aged 12 to 18 years old

• Resident of Spokane County

• Having difficulty with relationships that has led to physical, emotional, verbal or sexual violence

Are there any reason for exclusion?

The young person should be capable of functioning in group setting.  Any emotional, mental, behavioral or cognitive issue that may prevent any youth from fully participating in and benefiting from this group, would not be an appropriate referral.  We evaluate each potential group member individually to determine their appropriateness for membership.

What is the cost of TeenPEACE?

There is no charge for participating in TeenPEACE.  TeenPEACE is a violence intervention model within the Peace Mentors Program.  The N.A.T.I.V.E. Project, Volunteers of America's Crosswalk and YFA Connections, three youth-serving non-profit agencies in Spokane County offer a collaborative effort to intervene and build resiliency in teens who have been exposed to or participated in violence in their families, personal relationships or in the community.  The Peace Mentors program is funded through a grant from Spokane County Community Network.

Thank you to all our in-kind donations provided by: McDonalds, Riverhawks Baseball, Pizza Pipeline, Riverfront Park and the Spokane Indians Baseball.