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Mission:
Youth Service Providers Network (YSPN) is a program of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston in partnership with the Boston Police Department. 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.
City-wide coverage:
YSPN currently has five district-based social workers and two city-wide social workers placed in police districts around the city of Boston including B-2 (Roxbury), C-11 (Dorchester), B-3 (Mattapan), D-4 (South End/Lower Roxbury, Youth Violence Strike Force and Victim Services Unit. The Roxbury and Dorchester stations have two social workers due to the high volume of referrals and being communities most impacted by youth violence. The station-based social worker receives consistent support and clinical supervision from a Senior Social Worker (LICSW).
Database:
YSPN has created a central database used to help clinical social workers work with clients in a social work model that is assisted by outcomes, yet is not driven by outcomes. The database uses the best of the managed care model to track outcomes of social work services specifically regarding reducing risk factors for delinquency. These risk factors are primarily tracked around issues of school performance, family functioning, substance abuse and trauma history. The database is formatted to guide YSPN social workers through an extensive assessment process. It allows supervisors to run reports that help to organize basic demographic data and track service outcomes. Supervisors are able to use the secure database as a quality assurance tool to monitor caseloads and review client files off site.
Proven Results:
YSPN has been an effective partnership for 10 years and has proven results. Recently, a study sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the following significant changes in the behaviors of YSPN clients: a 59% reduction in weapon carrying, 64% reduction in aggressive behavior, 71% reduction in victimization.
Jeff Butts, LICSW, ACSW
Executive Director
Phone: 617-202-4383
Email: jbutts@bgcb.orgDenise Kasrawi
Clinical Director
Phone: 617-541-2132
Email: dkasrawi@bgcb.orgAddress:
115 Warren Street
Roxbury, MA 02119