The mission of P.E.A.C.E. (Putting An End to Abuse through Community Efforts) Initiative is to educate the community about the extent, and often-deadly consequences of domestic violence and to respond effectively through collaborative efforts.
- We work to increase public awareness on domestic violence by teaching, training, and public speaking, in public, private, alternative, university and college classroom settings, public meetings, open forums, neighborhood meetings, churches of all denominations.
- We train people in the medical, law enforcement, child protection, social service, religious, corporate, legal, education, inmate (youth and adult), criminal justice supervision fields, as well as community and civic leaders, and educate them on issues of domestic violence such as resources available, culturally relevant interventions, appropriate case management, and safety planning.
- We also focus on the plight as it affects the lives of the youth by educating about teen dating violence.
- We serve on boards and commissions, at the local, state and national levels to represent the grassroots experience of dealing with domestic violence as interventions, rules, policy and procedure themes are addressed in developing practice models for responding to family violence.
Advocacy:
We advocate for the systemic changes needed within the institutions of the community to effectively respond to these needs.
We challenge law enforcement when they deviate from departmental policy in response to family violence calls. Advocate on how city dollars are spent in terms of effective response from community agencies.
The judicial system as a vital link in dealing effectively with domestic violence, the P.E.A.C.E. Initiative has worked to improve the criminal and civil response to domestic violence. During October, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the P.E.A.C.E. Initiative plans, designs and implements events and activities in a citywide effort to create awareness, get community involved, in eradicating the violence in families.
Coalition Building:
We work to engage community members in discussions about the effects of family violence on family members and the community as a whole.
We are training them to know what to expect from law enforcement in terms of laws, safety, protections, resources and their rights which they in turn will teach other community residents.
We have learned that most survivors of family violence seek help with those people closest to them, therefore it is imperative we build a community consciousness of awareness, accountability and response.
This way that community member, will know what to say, how to respond, and where to send survivors of family violence for the appropriate help and support.
We work to increase public awareness regarding domestic violence by teaching, training, and speaking in public, private, alternative, and classroom settings, as well as public meetings, open forums, neighborhood meetings, and churches.
We train people in the medical, law enforcement, child protection, social service, religious, corporate, legal, education, and criminal justice fields, as well as community and civic leaders, educating them on issues of domestic violence such as resources available, culturally relevant interventions, appropriate case management, and safety planning. We also focus on the plight as it affects the lives of the youth by educating them about teen dating violence.
Addressing violence and abuse through networking, client education and empowerment.
We work with the offender population in the Bexar County that are first-time arrestees on domestic violence charges and who are eligible for PR Bond, to educate about domestic violence, to promote healthy relationships, to lower recidivism rates, and intervene in the cyclical nature of domestic violence within the criminal justice system.
Nine two hour sessions involve learning about their responsibilities and options with regard to stopping domestic violence, child custody, parental obligations, as survivors and or perpetrators of domestic violence, etc.
Court-mandated students only.
This program is collaborating with community-based organizations—especially women’s organizations—to learn about the extent and impact of family violence.
This campaign will engage males in the learning about and need for stopping the spousal and child abuse violence and involve them in community education, arts, activist, organizing, faith based and neighborhood events and activities to do so.
A father should be a model of positive, non-violent behavior for his children by:
- Being a true partner in the raising of his children.
- Valuing his male and female children equally.
- Sharing in the duties at home.
- Making the most of family leave entitlements and family-friendly work conditions.
- Sharing financial decisions and resources.
- Being non-violent and non-controlling.
- Promoting gender equality.
- Being an equal partner in the home.
- Not accepting male dominance as the norm
Court-mandated students only.