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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Georgia Green, LICSW¹, Beth Muccini, LICSW², Aimee Chalifoux, LICSW¹, Thomas Dunn, Lt³, Leslie S. Aldrich, MPH⁴, and Sarah Oo, MSW⁵. (1) Community Health Team/Mental Health, Massachusetts General Chelsea HealthCare Center, 151 Everett Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150, 617-889-8543, ggreen1@partners.org, (2) Community Health Team /Mental Health, Massachusetts General Chelsea HealthCare Center, 151 Everett Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150, (3) Chelsea Police Department, 19 Park Street, Chelsea, MA 02150, (4) Community Benefit Program/Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, (5) Community Health Team, MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center, 151 Everett Ave, Chelsea, MA 02150

Rates of child maltreatment in Chelsea have increased at alarming rates since 1994 and remain among the highest in Massachusetts. Likewise children's exposure to domestic and community violence has skyrocketed. In 1996, following an extensive community health assessment, residents of Chelsea identified youth and community violence as the priority among public health concerns. In 1998, modeled after the evidence-based Child Development-Community Policing Program, in New Haven, CT, the Police Action Counseling Team (PACT) was formed in Chelsea. PACT is a partnership between MGH Chelsea mental health clinicians and the Chelsea Police Department, providing on-scene crisis intervention at 911 calls where children are witnesses to, or victims of violence. Interventions aim to reduce the short-term effects of trauma, and in cases of domestic violence, to interrupt the cycle of family violence. Fundamental to PACT's clinical objectives is officer training which teaches officers about the deleterious effects of violence on children's mental and physical health, and teaches them to utilize the power of their roles in the lives of children and families beyond more traditional policing models. Clinicians use a post-test to measure knowledge of subject matter as well as satisfaction with the program and trainings. PACT clinicians also track the type and number of cases and services provided on an annual basis. The program annually reassesses the program by reviewing this data, current support services, and violent trends in the community. This session will highlight program details, including police training and make recommendations for creating police partnerships.

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