Child Development / Community Policing

In partnership with the Bridgeport Police Department, the agency provides quick response to a police officer's call when they encounter a child or youth who may need mental health services. The Child Development Community Policing program responds to referrals from the Bridgeport Police Department regarding children and youth who are in need of counseling services. Children who have witnessed or experienced violence, or who are beginning to engage in criminal behavior are often referred. Short-Term individual and family counseling are provided.

Program Description:

         The CD-CP Program provides on-call, 24 hours a day trained clinicians who will provide mental health screening and follow-up services to children, adolescents and their families. The sole referral source for this program is the Police Officer who notifies the on-call clinician from the scene of the violent or traumatizing event after receiving permission from the parent(s) or guardian(s) to make the referral to CDCP. Clinicians will respond to any situation in which (1) a child or adolescent is a victim or witness of violence or trauma, (2) a child or adolescent is experiencing behavioral or disciplinary problems and no arrest has been made, and (3) a child or adolescent presents any mental health concern to the police officer. Clinicians also provide post-event, follow-up therapeutic interventions; these services take place either in the urgent residence or at the CD-CP offices as requested by the client. Clinicians meet regularly with the referring police officers to seek additional information, to give appropriate feedback, and to strengthen this partnership, which seeks to insure the welfare of the referred child or adolescent. CD-CP Program staff also provides training to police on the impact of violence and trauma on children; staff members have been regularly scheduled presenters at the Police Training  Academy . Clinicians have attended police roll-calls and do ride-alongs with officers to learn police procedures and to share clinical intervention information. Clinicians have assisted the police in doing neighbourhood outreach after a homicide.

Program Eligibility:

Any child or adolescent, birth to 17 years of age, who have been identified as in need of urgent therapeutic services by a law enforcement officer in the City of Bridgeport.

Accessing Services:

Only police officer-initiated referrals are accepted. There is an on-call therapist available to the police around the clock everyday. Parent(s) or guardian(s) must agree to allow the officer to make the call to the CDCP therapist.

Client Fees:

CDCP services are not contingent on a family’s ability to pay. Clients pay nothing to CD-CP. Services will be billed to insurance providers if the client has health coverage. No one will be denied CDCP services due to inability to pay or for lack of health insurance.

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