Program Information Contact updated: 2016
Program approved for: MSW 1st Year [ x ] MSW 2nd Year [x ] PPSC [x ] Title IV-E [X]
Agency Name: Safe Passages
Agency Phone Number: 510-238-6368
website: www.safepassages.org
Agency/Program Address:
250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 6306, Oakland, CA. 94612
Program Name:
Early Childhood & Middle School Strategy
County Agency is in: Alameda
Program Description:
Founded in 1998, Safe Passages was created as part of the five-city Urban Health Initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Safe Passages is an inter-governmental partnership including the City of Oakland, the County of Alameda, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), philanthropy and community-based partners that is committed to advocating for children, youth, and families with a special emphasis on vulnerable populations within the County of Alameda. These collaboration are holding each other accountable and working together to redirect government and private resources to implement proven strategies to better the lives of children and families.
Together, we are working to implement three strategies, citywide:
- Intervene with youth offenders to prevent additional arrests, particularly violent arrests;
- Provide a network of school-based services to steer vulnerable middle school youth from violent behavior; and
- Identify and support young children exposed to violence to reduce their likelihood of adopting violent behavior.
The Middle School Strategy, implemented across 11 Oakland and 2 San Lorenzo middle schools sites, has been one of Safe Passages greatest successes. The strategy intensively targets middle school youth with comprehensive support on campus, including case managers and mental health counselors. With the strategy’s success and the partnerships’ commitment to serving youth, Oakland was selected to participate in the four year national initiative call Elev8. Six middle schools participate in Elev8 Oakland which focuses on support services for students and their families and in the fall will begin its third year. It is a $40 million dollar project which partners with over 40 community-based providers and private partners to deliver services, conduct community outreach, and provide training and education. Targeted middle school sites of both the Middle School Strategy and Elev8 are located in neighborhoods with the highest levels of health disparities, crime rates, lowest life expectancy rates, and high levels of community stressors.
The Early Childhood Strategy consists of services aimed at families and young children who have been exposed to community and domestic violence. Services include parent-infant psychotherapy, mental health consultation and assessment, treatment and referral and are provided at Head Start & Child Development Centers, homeless shelters and the Alameda County Family Justice Center.
Clientele Served:
Disadvantaged and oppressed groups served by our agency include: children, youth and families exposed to and affected by domestic and community violence; varying racial & ethnic, class, gender and sexual preference groups; underserved geographical locations such as West Oakland and unincorporated areas of Alameda County; academically, emotionally and socially underserved youth.
Issues Program Addresses:
Specific issues addressed by our program include: social, emotional, academic and behavioral problems caused by exposure to violence, poverty and racism; domestic violence and the trauma and disruption that it causes; and systemic failures to serve the most vulnerable children, youth and families.
Intern Assignments:
Two types of internships are being offered through Safe Passages
School Based
Interns placed at middle schools will work in a team of professionals, called the coordination of services team, to provide intervention services for referred students. Interns will provide individual & group therapy and case management, teacher consultation and training, parent education and training, home visits, and have a comprehensive school-based experience. Interns will also meet weekly with the team of professionals to create individualized, collaborative action plans for all students involved in the process.
Alameda County Family Justice Center
Interns placed at the Alameda County Family Justice Center will provide intake assessments and case management to clients who have been exposed to domestic and community violence. Interns will also work with closely with the referral process in partnership with 24 other on-site community providers. Also, they will participate in presentations to local providers as part of the Safe Passages’ Early Childhood Public Awareness Campaign.
Intern Training & Educational Opportunities:
Students placed with Safe Passages will receive practical training and experience in case work, individual and group therapy, group work, mental health assessment, treatment and referral, for middle-school aged youth and adults affected by domestic and community violence. Students placed with Safe Passages will receive practical experience in community organizing through the provision of school and community-based presentations, trainings, team-building and education on various topics. Also, students placed at middle schools will have the unique opportunity to work with the school staff and faculty towards common school climate and student well-being goals. Lastly, in addition to weekly individual supervision students will participate in bi-weekly group supervision consisting of case presentations, group processing, and a highlighted form of therapy, intervention, or applicable training component.
Intern Benefits: (Include stipend, conferences, car, food, etc.)
$1000 stipend for all interns and $1250 stipend for bilingual interns
Other Special Placement Procedures or Requirements (Including Dates of Internship, Special Application Forms and Deadlines):
All interns must have proof of Livescan fingerprint clearance or agree to pass fingerprinting before seeing clients. Also, all interns must pass a TB test, and agree to attend the pre- placement Safe Passages Orientation.