FUNDING REQUEST:
The Santa Ana Police Department in partnership with the Santa Ana Police Foundation seeks funding to focus Community Outreach in collaboration with places of worship and faith based organizations within the Santa Ana city limits. This focused outreach seeks to capitalize on three proven and effective programs the Parent Academy, Jr. COP (Children of Pride) and the Teen Academy. All requested funds specifically pay for management, administrative, staff and delivery materials. No funds shall be used to supplant budgeted activities or materials in the Santa Ana Police Department or Santa Ana Police Foundation’s budgets.
PARENT ACADEMY
The Parent Academy Program is targeted towards, but not exclusive to parents with strong-willed or out of control children. This is a prevention based, education program that provides parents with knowledge to recognize warning signs of juvenile delinquency, as well as applicable methods to prevent this behavior. The program incorporates a parenting skill component to assist parents in gaining knowledge and empowerment in dealing with strong-willed children. Additionally handout materials are provided that may assist parents with community resources.
The Parent Academy will be held at various places of worship throughout the year. The overall intent for the Parent Academy is to educate those individuals that live in “multi housing complexes” and highly density areas of the city that are exposed to higher levels of criminal activity or influences in their neighborhoods. Education is an empowerment opportunity and is a direct component of Crime Prevention/Suppression.
This program is taught in a two hour per week block of instruction, for 5 consecutive weeks. This is a tested deployment model.
Instructors from throughout the department facilitate various blocks of instruction. Adult learning theory concepts are incorporated into the class format, which has proven to be extremely effective. Partnerships with Orange County Probation and Orange County Social Services were established and a representative from each agency provides a presentation during this program. The course curriculum is divided into 10 sessions as follows:
| Week #: | Class Description: | |
|
1 |
Gangs – The Warning Signs | |
| Dealing with Emotional Behavior | ||
|
2 |
Child Discipline and Abuse Issues / Social Services | |
| School and Academic Success | ||
|
3 |
Narcotic Education – The Warning Signs | |
| Understanding your Child | ||
|
4 |
Youth Diversion Programs | |
| Improving your communication skills | ||
|
5 |
Police Services | |
| Community Resources | ||
JR COP
The Junior Children of Pride Program provides youth who reside in low income, high- density complexes with skills and opportunities necessary to succeed in life through good citizenship, education and goal setting. All program delivery locations shall be selected by or with the input of a designated congregation within Santa Ana. The program encourages joint participation with the parents, the youth themselves, and personnel from the Santa Ana Police Department. The program is designed to improve the safety and quality of life in the neighborhood and reinforce the value of civic responsibility. This is accomplished in cooperation with the local residents, youth groups, civic organizations, and the business community.
Meetings are held once a week for 3 months which include:
- Weekly drawings conducted to distribute incentive rewards
- Safety Awareness issues are discussed
- Current issues at the location are addressed
- Officer interaction with Children
- Redeem reward tickets for self selected incentives
- Clean up dates
- Parenting Classes
- Adolescent Classes
- Tutoring
- Parks & Recreation activities
- Bookmobile
- Professional Sporting Events ( baseball, soccer, hockey)
TEEN ACADEMY
The Teen Academy is designed for young residents between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, who reside within the City of Santa Ana. The purpose of the Academy is to increase understanding and mutual respect between the young residents of the City of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Police Department. Teens learn about various departments and careers in law enforcement as well as how a police agency functions. Classes give students hands-on exposure to many areas of police work and a better understanding of a police officer’s function. The curriculum is designed to hold the interest of the teens through a variety of hands-on presentations.
Class discussions, presentations, and demonstrations will address current issues teens face on a daily basis at school, home, and in their neighborhoods. The Teen Academy is designed to accomplish several things, one of which is to get Teens to become interested and passionate about their future through education and career development. Local congregations will refer youth, provide locations to meet as necessary and assist in promoting the program to their area of influence in the community.
The focus of this program will be taught in 1 hour per week sessions, for ten consecutive weeks. The program curriculum is:
| Week #: | Class Description: | |
|
1 |
Police Services | |
| An in depth overview of the specific services within the Police Department that Teens should be aware of including the Police Explorers Program and the Police Cadet Program. | ||
|
2 |
Gang Awareness | |
| An introduction to what is a Gang and discussion of the risk and dangerous of joining a gang | ||
|
3 |
Narcotic Education | |
| A Powerpoint presentation and a view of a Narcotic display case. Discussion of the negative effects of long term use (ie…) jail, bodily injury, alienation of family, and death etc. | ||
|
4 |
Graffiti Awareness | |
| “Caught Slippin video and lecture covering the true story of a young man who lost his life because of his participation in a tagging crew | ||
|
5 |
Bullying | |
| A review of what Bullying is and what can be done if they are or if they know of someone who is a victim. | ||
|
6 |
Peer Pressure / Consequences | |
| Educate Teens on the negative effects and consequences of submitting to Peer Pressure. An in depth examination of the most common issues Teens are pressured about today (Joining Gangs, Using Drugs, Violence, Bullying, Drinking, Underperforming in School, etc.) | ||
|
7 |
Internet Safety | |
| View video clips of true stories of Teens and the consequences of their choices made while on line. Provide Teens with Safety Tips on the internet. | ||
|
8 |
Teen Dating Violence | |
| This session will educate the Teens about Teen Dating Violence and the signs of being in a Domestic Violence relationship. Explanation of the different types of abuse. ( Physical, Mental, and Verbal) | ||
|
9 |
Career Development / Career Education | |
| This session is meant to encourage and excite Teens about their future by showing them what can result from excelling in school. This class will be about an open dialog between Teen and instructors where they can express their desires and goals for their lives. | ||
|
10 |
Police Tour / Graduation | |
| The last session will recognize the participating Teens and their parents for completion of the Teen Academy with a small ceremony and certificate. This will take place at the Santa Ana *Police Department and the Academy will conclude with a Tour of the Police Facility. | ||
Teens are typically the most ignored group in the population, this program seeks to close the gap between parents and young adults and foster an environment that will lead to a promising future.
