Education and Training
The P.E.A.C.E. Initiative has trained more than 3,000 people in the community on how to help survivors of domestic violence. 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 youth by providing training on 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.
Partners In PEACE / Familias Empoderadas
P.E.A.C.E. Initiative works with Empower House to provide free educational classes on domestic violence and 10-week workshops in English and Spanish based on the 5 key principles of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program 1) having a safe and engaging environment, 2) creating a positive learning environment, 3) using assertive discipline, 4) having realistic expectations, and 5) taking care of yourself as a parent. We also provide case management/consultation for the individual students in our classes.
Triple P – Positive Parenting Program
We offer free parenting class that are offered in both English and Spanish. We provide this programming to all families and most of the students are referred to us from Child Protective Services. Contact us at 210-533-0880 to sign up.
Responsible Fatherhood Program
Men Cultivating the Power of P.E.A.C.E. – Hombres Cultivando el Poder de Paz
This program engages men 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.
MANifesto for fathers against violence
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.
Project ADVANCE
We created Project Advance to work with first-time arrestees of domestic violence charges in Bexar County who were eligible for personal recognizance bond to educate them about domestic violence, promote healthy relationships, lower recidivism rates, and intervene in the cyclical nature of domestic violence within the criminal justice system. The program consisted of nine two-hour sessions focused on participants learning about their responsibilities and options with regard to stopping domestic violence, child custody, parental obligations, as survivors and/or perpetrators of domestic violence. The program went on hiatus to the COVID-19 pandemic and we hope to bring it back.
F.A.C.T. (family Assistance Crisis Teams)
While working in the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Special Victims Unit, P.E.A.C.E. Initiative co-founder Jane Shafer helped develop a working relationship between the P.E.A.C.E. Initiative and the SAPD. After realizing people from the community wanted to be involved with addressing domestic violence, Jane created and ran the F.A.C.T. (Family Assistance Crisis Teams) volunteer program within the SAPD which trained community volunteers who then worked in police substations on select nights. From 1991 to 2017 (when Jane retired from SAPD), we provided 20 hours of training to over 2,500 volunteers who provided a listening ear, resources, and safety planning to the battered women police brought to the substation; in time, some volunteers rode with officers during their shift to be available immediately to offer services. Many of the volunteers were survivors themselves or grew up in violent homes, some were parents of daughters who had been or were being abused by their partners, a few had lost a friend or family members due to domestic violence, some were graduate students wanting field experience, most were regular citizens wanting to make a difference in the community by helping some of the most vulnerable. We continue to be inspired by their genuine care and generosity of time. The program went on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is to be resurrected in the near future. The F.A.C.T. model was replicated in Wisconsin.