Supporting Children Exposed to Violence in South Los Angeles

Children's Institute Inc's (CII) Children Exposed to Violence Program focuses on the needs of two target populations: children present at Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) crime scenes who have witnessed violence, and community youth who have been impacted by violence. To support children exposed to violence, CII will expand our existing services to three divisions in the LAPD's South Bureau and an emerging high need area in the nearby Newton division. Support services will include on-site response at LAPD crime scenes, counseling, follow-up support, leveraged evidence-based mental health care, linkage to additional resources, concrete supports, and community wellness education and support building events. To provide additional supports for youth who have been impacted by trauma and violence, CII will leverage existing funding through our Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health contract to offer evidence-based mental health services. Youth will also be provided with access to positive youth development activities, such as a Leadership Group using the Wyman Teen Outreach Program, a promising practice. Through this program, youth will have the opportunity to build prosocial skills and re-establish positive community connections. Youth will also have access to employment-focused services using the Individual Placement and Support model, which will be leveraged through CII's existing contract. This model will help youth identify and secure employment, an important protective factor. To build awareness of the consequences of violence and increase community capacity to prevent and respond to violence, CII will provide awareness events targeting children and families who have been impacted by violence. These events will create a shared community experience and build understanding of resources to mitigate the impact of trauma.