VALLEJO PD SLATED TO OPEN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE RESOURCE & ENGAGEMENT (C.A.R.E.) CENTER
VALLEJO - Child and adult victims of abuse will have a new resource to get assistance and support in Vallejo. The new Community Assistance Resource & Engagement (C.A.R.E.) Center will provide a safe space where victims can begin the process of healing using a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) approach. 

An MDT includes but is not limited to, a law enforcement investigator or detective, a member of the District Attorney's Office, a Child Welfare Services representative, Victim Advocate, Forensic Interviewer, Social Worker, medical staff member and mental health professional to evaluate and/or connect victims to trauma recovery and therapy services.
 
“Our work goes beyond preventing and responding to crimes,” said Chief of Police Shawny Williams. “This center merges services and provides stability to victims when they are most vulnerable.” 
The C.A.R.E. Center is the result of a collaboration between the Vallejo Police Department and local advocacy groups and service organizations. Aside from providing resources to adults and children, the center provides a meeting ground and safe house for victims to gather, have courageous conversations, and provide integrated trauma-informed care services.
 
The creation of the C.A.R.E. Center has been one of Chief Williams initiatives following the OIR Group’s evaluation and recommendations for the Vallejo PD. One of the recommendations by the independent consulting group is to develop a “family liaison” protocol following a critical incident.  
Creating a welcoming environment where victims feel cared about, listened to and valued.
Multi-Disciplinary Interviews (MDIs) for child victims are administered by Napa-Solano SANE-SART and will happen here. Toys and blankets will be provided.
According to Napa Solano SANE-SART, approximately 60% of all Courage Center clients are from Vallejo. In 2020 alone, 40% of all child forensic interviews were Vallejo victims. Having a centrally located center in the City of Vallejo will allow a more convenient location for abuse victims to seek and obtain services, especially for those without reliable transportation. 
 
“The creation of this center is part of our 21st Century Policing goals,” said Chief Williams. “We have more work to do in strengthening relationships and trust, but this center is a big step in building bridges with our community.”  
Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDT) and advocates will meet here to review and discuss cases.
Agile project management style work-spaces for victim advocates, non-profit administrators and support staff to pop-in and work on-the-go.
Funding for the C.A.R.E. Center equipment and furniture is provided by grants, donations and the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF). No general funds are being utilized in the funding of this project. In addition, there will be no incurred costs for any of the non-profit and social services agencies slated to utilize the facility. The VPD is actively seeking and will continue making ourselves available to additional grant opportunities. 

“I am truly grateful and proud of the commitment, passion and collaborative effort our partners and staff have put into this process to deliver needed services to our children and victims of sexual assault and heinous abuse. Our community deserves and needs this exceptional level of trauma-informed care services, and we look forward to making a real difference.” 

We would like to sincerely thank Napa Solano SANE-SART Executive, National Alliance on Mental Illness (Solano County) and Solano County Victim Witness Advocates for their advocacy work and support in this endeavor. Funding derives from the existing police fiscal budget previously approved for the purpose of victim advocacy. 

The Vallejo PD will keep the community apprised of when the center officially opens to provide trauma-informed care services to victims in need. For more information on Child Advocacy Centers and how they operate, please visit, nationalchildrensalliance.org.

For media inquiries, please contact Public Information Officer, Brittany K. Jackson by email at VallejoPolicePIO@cityofvallejo.net or by phone at (707) 651-7147.
 
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For more news and information, please visit our new website at www.vallejopd.net.