CLEARWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT

Clearwater’s Child Development - Community Policing Program (CD-CP) is an extension of the nationally acclaimed program that was originally created in 1991 by the Yale Child Study Center, City of New Haven, and New Haven Department of Police Service. The CD-CP Program is a shared intervention program that provides opportunities to better understand the relationship between a child’s exposure to violence and traumatic stress symptoms, as well as to develop prompt and effective ways to assist children and families exposed to violence. The program is a collaborative alliance among law enforcement, juvenile justice, domestic violence intervention, medical and mental health professionals, child welfare, schools and other community agencies.

In 2001, the Clearwater Police Department partnered with Directions for Mental Health Inc., the Pinellas Juvenile Welfare Board, and Pinellas Safe Start to establish a CD-CP program among community policing officers. Officers are able to activate CD-CP services via a 24/7 hotline referral number. The officer and clinician team provide a sense of safety and security for the child. The clinical staff implements the clinical model of acute crisis response developed at Yale and makes referrals when extended clinical services or other interventions are necessary. The team of mental health clinicians, victim advocates and officers meet regularly in an effort to provide the best possible solutions.

Over the last three years, all of the sworn staff has been trained on CD-CP. Additional training sessions have been conducted with support staff and communications personnel. Numerous public appearances have been made within the community to increase public awareness about the effects of violence on child development.

The CD-CP program is a life preserver we offer to those children who are traumatized by violence today - a circle of rescue employed before the trauma emotionally scars them for life.

For more information please contact Dan Slaughter at Daniel.Slaughter@myclearwater.com.