SHIELD PROGRAM Strategic Home Intervention

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SHIELD PROGRAMStrategic Home Intervention
Early Leadership Development

• Westminster, CA
• Population of 86,000
• 26 Vietnamese American
• 24 Latino
• 50 White or other
• Located in west Orange County

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Background

• In 1996, Westminster P.D. initiated a new
  domestic violence program known as the Family
  Protection Unit.
• The effects of domestic violence on children
  arose as an issue of concern.
• We broadened our sphere of concern to include
  violence generally, as well as substance abuse
  and neglect.

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Our Primary Concerns

• Children as previously unrecognized victims.
• Children as potential future victims.
• Children as potential future offenders.

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What Caught Our Attention

• During the 1990s, children in Westminster were
  exposed to significant levels of gang violence,
  family violence and substance abuse (an
  accumulation of risk).
• By the year 2010, we predicted a 67 increase in
  the number of 15 19 year olds in Westminster.

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S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Recognizes officers regularly encounter children
  living in high risk environments and leverages
  this opportunity to act as sentinels or
  forward observers in the child protection
  system.
• Connects youth and their families to mental
  health, social and support services.

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S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Two key components to S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Identification and referral by patrol officers.
• The case is reviewed by a multidisciplinary team
  which recommends and implements an intervention
  strategy.

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S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Officer required by policy to obtain the name,
  age and school attended of each child who has
  been exposed to a specified event or is living
  where these events are occurring.
• This information is forwarded to the SHIELD
  Officer.

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S.H.I.E.L.D.

• SHIELD Officer reviews the referrals to determine
  appropriateness for the program. A risk
  assessment tool is used to facilitate this
  process.
• If appropriate, the officer prepares a referral
  report for use by the multidisciplinary team.
• The SHIELD officer contacts the family.

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S.H.I.E.L.D.

• The multidisciplinary team is known as the Youth
  and Family Resource Team.
• Comprised of professionals as authorized by CA
  Code (i.e.. Pupil Personnel Administrator, school
  nurse, counseling staff, social worker, police,
  etc.)

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Youth and Family Resource Team

• Team considers a range of school and community
  based treatment options.
• Team recommends a strategy.
• Case management assigned to one agency.
• Periodic progress reports to the Team.

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Program Strengths

• Fills a gap in service to youth and their
  families.
• Coordinates the provision of services to
  families.
• Leverages existing community resources.

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Program Weaknesses

• No evaluation of program effectiveness at this
  point.
• Occasional failure to adhere to process
  requirements.
• Multi-cultural and bilingual services are
  limited.
• No established system for immediate call-out
  (crisis response).

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Conclusion

• SHIELD is one model of partnership developed to
  protect children from the effects of violence and
  other risks.
• Other models exist around the country.
• Each program must be structured to fit community
  needs and assets. This is a key tenet of
  community policing.

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Additional Information

• http//www.safefromthestart.org/
• http//ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/delinq.html
• http//ojjdp.ncjrs.org/about/press/ojp000229.html
• http//info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/CDCP/
• http//www.nccev.org/safe_start.html
• http//www.childrensdefense.org/