Police and mental health professionals - Collaborative responses to the impact of violence on children and families

Children in the United States are exposed to violent events in their homes, schools, and larger communities at alarming rates. These experiences may lead to a wide range of transient or chronic discrete symptoms, such as sleep and eating disturbances; regression in toileting; distractibility; and poor attention, oppositional, and aggressive behaviors. Too often, children experience extremely violent episodes in a context of chronic maltreatment (e.g., abuse and neglect). These children are at great risk of developing more pervasive psychiatric and behavioral disorders, such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and conduct disorders. The New Haven Child Development Community Policing Project is a collaboration between police and a multidisciplinary team of child mental health professionals that aims to intervene acutely in an attempt to prevent children's maladaptive responses to violent exposure. in this model, which is being replicated throughout the country, child psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals provide direct clinical service and consultation and extensive training experiences for nonclinical, front-line responders.