Abstract
In 2007, a qualitative exploratory study of nine in-depth interviews was conducted, using the original method of Grounded Theory to (a) examine the meaning of marriage and domestic violence among immigrant Mexican women residing in a large metropolitan southwestern city and (b) develop a domestic violence prevention model from findings. One of the categories that emerged in the process of developing a theoretical model was reaching out for help and women's experiences with types of support systems. Immigrant Mexican women use the Catholic Church as a type of informal support. The findings have implications for clergy (i.e., religious priests, deacons), as well as pastoral staff (i.e., persons working in parishes other than clergy), members regarding how they respond to incidences of domestic violence, particularly among immigrant Mexican women. In addition, social workers working with Mexican families may have a better understanding of how this support system offers services.