SPD C.A.R.E.S

OVERVIEW

The Stevensville Police Department is excited to collaborate with Stevensville Public Schools and the Stevensville Parks & Recreation Department for youth support services in the community. SPD C.A.R.E.S is a community and relationship-oriented program focused on providing educational and mentoring opportunities for youth in the Stevensville community. The program meets community needs by achieving goals for improving school safety and community service and resource programs.

SPD C.A.R.E.S is aimed as effectively integrating a police officer with a wide range of educational skills that is both professional and approachable into youth centered settings. The program is responsive to community needs and strategically addresses the concerns of parents, community members, student peers, and community leadership.

Research indicates that police involvement in the community leads to better confidence in the assistance that the police can provide. It leads to the development of crime reduction strategies and educational opportunities that reduce the opportunities for citizens to be victims of crime. By having a direct relationship with the youth of the community, those educational opportunities begin at a young age.

By placing police officers in a mentoring role, it allows the youth to truly see that police officers are there to help and be problem solvers. It also allows for the police to be directly involved in educational opportunities of interest that have a direct impact on the youth in the area.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Goal #1: Assist in the developing a safe school environment for the Stevensville Public Schools’ students, staff, parents, and visitors.

Goal #2: Provide educational opportunities for the students and staff of the Stevensville Public Schools on topics that directly impact them such as Active Shooter Response, Dating and Domestic Violence, Internet Safety for Children, Sexual Assault and Substance Abuse, Stalking, Suicide Prevention and Warning Signs, and Alcohol and Drug Awareness

Goal #3: Provide educational and mentoring opportunities in cooperation with the Town of Stevensville’s Parks and Recreation Department with a focus on summer activities and programs for the youth in the area of Stevensville.

PROGRAM EXECUTION & STRATEGY

SPD’s execution strategy incorporates proven methodologies, seeking out extremely qualified candidates that are a fit for Stevensville, and a responsive approach to the needs of each partner.

Needs are evaluated on a continuous basis to mitigate any risks that may be unforeseen or encountered. Progress is assessed and reported to stakeholders through interactive performance tools.

OPPORTUNITIES

The Town of Stevensville continuously works toward our strategic goal of Engaging with our Partners: Collaborations that re-energize and re-imagine relationships with our partners that result in mutual success. The town will maximize strategic partnerships with agencies that work with us to provide services, as well as expand our partner base.

SPD C.A.R.E.S is not a traditional School Resource Officer Program. Instead, we have highlighted the elements of and SRO Program and adapted to the specific needs of our community while integrating with other youth centered opportunities in Stevensville.

Stevensville School is a substantial stakeholder in the program, committing financial resources toward the mutual success that both the school system and the community will realize through the partnership.

Safety and security for parents, staff, students, and visitors by knowing that a police officer is available on the school campuses will be achieved. Educational opportunities for the students with curriculum that directly impacts their interests and daily lives will be integrated into the school setting.

Parks & Recreation provides the indoor and outdoor recreation programming that is leveraged by the SPD C.A.R.E.S program to foster those critical community relationships for youth benefit. With the goal of a better relationship with the police and youth in the community, a mentoring role who the youth in the community can see as a resource and someone to talk to about their issues is established.