SAMS – Stephanie Ann Mansfield Studstill Program
A domestic abuse & unsafe-relationship relief fund of Antara Pathways, Inc., created in loving remembrance of
Stephanie Ann Mansfield Studstill.
Why We Created SAMS
Stephanie was bright, charming, and deeply loved. She had a natural way of inspiring people to care for her, to laugh with her, and to see the light she carried.
But when she needed help the most, when she was afraid for her life, no one truly heard her. The people she turned to didn’t believe her pain.
She was told to trust the person who was hurting her, and sent back into danger.
The SAMS Program exists so that no one is ever dismissed, shamed, or sent back into harm’s way again.
When someone says, “I am not safe,” our answer is, “We believe you. Let’s get you out, now.”
Stephanie’s Story
In November 2009, Stephanie was killed by her husband after reporting increasing abuse and instability in the relationship.
She had tried to tell family that she was afraid and that he had become violent. Instead of being fully sheltered and supported, she was encouraged to return to him, and she didn’t make it out.
Her loss became one of the reasons Antara Pathways, Inc. was born. This program is the promise we make in her name:
if you tell us you are unsafe, we will believe you, and we will help you leave.
The SAMS Project – From Tragedy to Hope
This short video shares why the SAMS program was created in Stephanie’s memory, and how we turn loss into support for other survivors.
1. Emergency Financial Aid
Short-term, need-based assistance to help survivors relocate quickly:
transport, first night’s stay, phone, locks, or other safety needs.
2. Safety-Focused Resource Navigation
Connection to domestic abuse shelters, legal aid, and trauma-informed counseling, without judgment, for all genders.
3. Education & Healing
Coaching and education to help survivors recognize patterns of coercion, spiritual gaslighting, and economic control,
so they don’t have to return to unsafe partners.
SAMS Scholarship Fund (Education After Safety)
Sometimes leaving is only the first step. Many survivors tell us they need education, training, or certification
so they can earn more, stay independent, and avoid returning to an abuser because of money.
The SAMS Scholarship Fund was created for that, to help eligible SAMS clients pursue schooling after crisis.
Funding is limited and awarded based on safety, need, and readiness. If you are already working with Antara through SAMS, you can apply for scholarship support.
Learn about the SAMS Scholarship Fund
Scholarships are a follow-up service and are funding-dependent.
Who Can Receive SAMS Support?
The SAMS Program is open to women, men, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, coercive control, or spiritually abusive partnerships.
We especially welcome people who were not believed, were told to “submit” to an abuser, or were sent back into danger due to cultural, religious, or family pressure. You deserve safety.
How to Request SAMS Assistance
If you or someone you love needs to leave an unsafe relationship, contact us.
Funding is limited and prioritized for those in immediate danger or facing financial control by an abuser.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local emergency number first, then contact us for follow-up support.
A Note from Our Founder
Stephanie’s death was a turning point. It led to years of service, first through public safety work, and now through Antara Pathways. This program is how we say: