On Saturday, June 8, 2013, at 10:00AM, Altadena
Sheriff's Station joined in the Graduation Ceremony for youth that
participated in this amazing program. Over 120 youth from Sheriff's
Stations across Los Angeles County joined together to celebrate their graduation.
Vital Intervention and Directional Alternatives (VIDA) is a structured
16-week program for non-violent, at-risk youth between the ages of 11 and
17½. Through collaboration between the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department, community-based organizations, volunteers, schools and
families, the program teaches youth the value of effective
decision-making and taking responsibility for their futures.
The program originated as the dream of a group of East Los Angeles
Station deputy sheriffs who wanted to help troubled youths and their
families. Since its inception in 1996 by patrolmen Drew Britness and
Vince Romero, VIDA has grown into a comprehensive re-directional program
with eight locations across Los Angeles County.
The process begins with a referral from a community agency that has
identified a delinquent youth. Referring agencies often include courts,
law enforcement, the Department of Child and Family Services, Probation
Department, school districts, parents and religious institutions. Upon referral,
youths complete intake interviews with trained VIDA staff members. During
the interview, the applicant’s risk level is assessed to determine if the
youth meets the program’s targeted level of moderate to high risk of
offending/reoffending.
Following the interview and selection for the program, youths attend an
orientation night with their families. Once the program begins, VIDA
staff members conduct home and school visits during the week to monitor
social behaviors, reduce truancy and improve academic performance. The
mid-week re-directional component focuses on the student’s most pressing
risk factors. Depending on the student, these range from family issues,
educational issues, vocational skills and employment to anger issues,
self-control skills, self-management skills, anti-social attitudes,
substance abuse and anti-social peer contacts. Working to lower these
factors involves addressing how the student interacts with the community
and developing pro-social attitudes while reducing negative peer
contacts.
Students spend eight hours on Saturdays at the VIDA sites closest to
their homes. The Saturday component focuses on students’ perceptions of
themselves in relation to the community and authority figures. Staff
members tackle topics such as personal health and hygiene, physical
conditioning, individual and group dynamics, life responsibilities,
substance abuse, negative peer groups, community stewardship and
revitalization and gender-sensitive issues.
In addition to the mid-week and Saturday components, students spend one
night per week participating, along with their parents, in 2 hour group
classes that target family issues. The goal of these sessions is to
slowly rebuild damaged relationships and equip both the parent and child
with problem-solving skills that increase positive communication and
understanding.
At the conclusion of the program, each participant receives a certificate
of completion and is referred to other community-based programs to
continue their individual goals and careers. It is the hope that VIDA
students and their families will emerge with stronger bonds in place, as
well as better judgment, integrity, tact, initiative, commitment, respect
and a new take on life. After all, VIDA is life. For more information on
the VIDA Program click here:
http://vida.la/aboutUs.php
Attached photogrtaph of Captain John Benedict and Sheriff Lee Baca with
Altadena Station VIDA Volunteers.
Also photograph of Altadena Sheriff's Station Graduates with Captain John
Benedict, VIDA Deputy Dexter Jones, and VIDA Volunteers
Stay connected with your local Sheriff Station:
Visit the Altadena Sheriff's Station Web Page:
http://www.altadena.lasd.org
Follow Altadena Nixle:
http://local.nixle.com/lasd---altadena-station-los-angeles-county-sheriff/
Follow Altadena Twitter:
http://twitter.com/@ALDLASD
Follow Captain Benedict's Twitter:
http://twitter.com/@jblasd
Like the Altadena Sheriff's Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/AltadenaSheriffsStation
Altadena's
own Jennifer Gates will sing the danceable hits of Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole,
Ella Fitzgerald and several others. All in all, a night of dance music and
"standards" from "The Great American Song Book"!
