History

Mission Statement & Purpose

The Family Peace Initiative is dedicated to ending family violence through compassion, integrity and expertise. FPI is focused on treating every individual who walks through our doors with respect and dignity. The process of changing behavior begins with a safe environment where self-exploration can occur. We are committed to creating this space for those we serve.

Steve and Dorthy HalleyHistory

The Family Peace Initiative (FPI) is a certified battering intervention program operated by Halley Counseling Services, P.A. Presently, FPI operates more than 25+ groups in communities throughout the state of Kansas. Along with direct service, the staff of the FPI conducts training through workshops and conferences focusing on battering intervention facilitation and battering motivation.

FPI was born out of the work of Dorthy Stucky Halley, LMSW, and Steve Halley, LSCSW. Dorthy received grant funding for a battering intervention program in the early 1990s. In 2002, significant program changes occurred and FPI was born. A new curriculum was created and a new focus on intervention was undertaken that was research and evidence-based.

In 2007 the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Kansas Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence (KCSDV) along with the Topeka YWCA, invited Halley Counseling to participate in a pilot project focusing on people who were on parole for domestic violence offenses. The project was terminated as a result of the economic crash of 2008. At that time, Halley Counseling and the YWCA agreed that the program would be maintained and worked together to keep the Family Peace Initiative in operation.

Today: FPI not only operates more than 25+ groups in multiple communities throughout Kansas but also offers justice-involved work with youth. In addition, FPI consults with the Department of Corrections in multiple states, assisting in establishing battering intervention programs in prison facilities and parole offices.

Along with direct service, the staff of the FPI conducts training through workshops and conferences internationally, focusing on battering intervention facilitation and battering motivation. The Family Peace Initiative Training Series has been established to advance the skills of those who facilitate battering intervention programs. Our “Cracking The Code” workshop has brought a new understanding to the field of domestic violence as to the motivations of those who batter.