SBPD Contracted/Regularly Used Resources ….

SBPD Contracted/Regularly Used Resources

• Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) TIP is a group of specially trained volunteers who provide emotional aid and practical support to victims of traumatic events and their families in the first few hours following a tragedy. TIP Volunteers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are called by police officers, firefighters, paramedics and hospital personnel to assist family members and friends following a natural or unexpected death; victims of violent crime including rape, assault, robbery, or burglary; victims of fire; disoriented or lonely elderly persons; people involved in motor vehicle accidents; people who are distraught and seeking immediate support; and survivors of suicide. SBPD most frequently uses TIP when making death notifications and offers it to the families who have lost loved ones; budgeted by the SBPD.

• Peer Support Program

The Peer Support Team is an “in-house” resource/program consisting of sworn and professional SBPD and West-Comm employees. The purpose of the program is to provide all employees with personal, one-on-one peer support and referral assistance during time of personal or professional need.

• SBPD Chaplain Program

Police chaplains, composed of various faith-based leaders, assist the community by providing a more emotional, social or spiritual response while the officers handle the tasks that are directly related to law enforcement. By having the police and clergy working together during times of crisis or incidents, a more comprehensive response is provided to those in need. The police chaplain provides support for both police officer and civilians in their needs. Chaplains are there to provide appropriate assistance, advice, comfort, counsel and referrals to those in need who may request support.

• Psychiatric Emergency and Response Team (PERT)

PERT members are mental health clinicians who ride along with assigned law enforcement officers to address mental health-related calls in the assigned city. PERT conducts risk assessments, initiates involuntary hospitalizations when necessary and provides resources and education. The program also provides outreach and follow-up services to ensure linkage to ongoing services.

The Seal Beach Police Department was one of the earlier agencies in Orange County to take advantage of the PERT program. It currently has one PERT member ride along with officers one day each week, to assist with calls related to mental health. Additionally, the PERT member follow ups on individuals who officers have contacted on days when the PERT member is not present or individuals appear to exhibit signs of mental health distress.

• Crisis Intervention Team (CAT)

CAT provides 24-hour mobile response services to any adult experiencing a behavioral health crisis. CAT conducts risk assessments, initiates involuntary hospitalizations when necessary, provides resources and linkage, and conducts follow-up contacts for individuals assessed.

Most often, CAT is utilized for individuals experiencing suicidal ideations or who may seem temporarily unable to properly care for themselves.

•Waymakers

Works to build safer communities by helping individuals make their way through conflict and crisis to a place of strength. Waymakers assists with redirecting youth offenders, helping sheltered children get back on track, unifying troubled families, resolving community conflicts, and assisting victims of violence. Waymakers has been a great resource for the county as they offer resources to such a wide variety of clients.

• 2-1-1 2-1-1 is an often-utilized resource by many of SBPD officers for citizens in need, as it is a comprehensive source of locally curated social services information, an all-inclusive resource guide. Citizens can call, text or chat online to speak with a community resource specialist who can assess the services and resources available for that individual and their specific needs.

They are able to make connections for almost any need, including but not limited to: supplemental food and nutrition programs, shelter and housing options, utilities assistance, employment and education opportunities, services for veterans, health care, vaccinations, health epidemic information, addiction prevention and rehab programs, re-entry help for ex-offenders, support groups for individuals with mental illness or special needs, domestic abuse assistance, disaster relief and emergency information.

• Internet Crimes Against Children

A national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 4,500 federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. These agencies are continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigations and prosecutions of persons involved in child abuse and involving the internet.

• Casa Youth Center

Serves and nurtures youth in crisis with shelter, counseling, and support services, empowering them to come through their crisis with increased confidence, stability, and tools for continued growth.

•Homeless Liaison Officers

Seal Beach co-founded the Orange County Community Officers Homeless Working Group workshop, which seeks the best ways for officers to deal with the homeless and their specialized needs. Additionally, Seal Beach has a Homeless Liaison Officer program, with several members dedicated to addressing the homeless needs in the community and resources with which to help those individuals – from meals, bus tickets, shelters, mental health programs, etc. Seal Beach has also reunited several homeless citizens with their family members, who often live out of state and would not have the resources or means to provide the assistance themselves.

• Crisis Negotiation Team Officers

Seal Beach currently has two officers who maintain specialized training to assist in criminal, domestic or mental health incidents that require advanced expertise. These officers specialize in tactical communication with high risk individuals who may be threatening violence (workplace, domestic, suicide, etc.), including barricaded subjects and hostage takers, and/or who may be having a mental health crisis. These officers train regularly with the SWAT Team to ensure their readiness in the most extreme situations.

—Next week: More on Resources, and police training and statistics