The program addresses the unique needs of high-risk urban youth and their families by placing licensed clinical social workers in district police stations throughout the city. YSPN social workers receive referrals from police officers, incident reports, Boston Cares and walk-ins. YSPN services include intake/assessment, crisis intervention, advocacy, referral, clinical case management and ongoing individual and family therapy. Additionally, when there is an incidence of community violence, YSPN provides critical incident trauma services to individuals, groups, and the community. Since its inception in 1996, YSPN has served more than 8,000 youth (80% between the ages of 13-21) and families from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
