Palo Alto Police Department - Parent Project Program for At-Risk Youth

The Police Department sponsors an educational program known as the Parent Project for the parents of at-risk youths. The program is designed to give parents the support and additional skills to effectively raise challenging children.

Learn more about the Parent Project

More About the Palo Alto Police Department

What is your agency’s connection to PADACC?
The Palo Alto Police Department has been part of PADACC since its inception in 2002.

What does your agency contribute to PADACC regarding drugs, alcohol, bullying & harassment?
Since 2002 the Police Department has had at least one representative who is actively engaged in the Collaborative and attends regular meetings. This representative provides Collaborative members with updates in Police Department activities as it relates to drugs, alcohol, bullying and harassment.

What were your agency's top 3 goals for 2008 - as related to underage drinking and drug use?
Our primary mission as it applies to PADACC is to reduce underage drinking and drug use through modifying the environment, enforcement and education. In 2008 the Police Department:

Conducted ABC Decoy Stings targeting businesses that sell alcohol to minors
Worked with Collaborative members to develop and implement the Social Host Ordinance
Offered educational seminars to establishments that sell/serve alcohol

What services does your agency provide to the community in relation to drugs, alcohol, bullying & harassment?
The Police Department is committed to reducing the effects of drugs, alcohol, bullying and harassment involving juveniles through enforcement, education and making modifications to the environment. As the local law enforcement agency we are charged with making arrests and issuing citations. We also refer youth offenders to the Juvenile Probation Department when appropriate. Some of our contacts are referred to a juvenile diversion program. Still others youths are referred to Adolescent Counseling Services for treatment.

For the last four years we have received a grant from the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control in order to conduct “sting” operations at local bars, restaurants, liquor/convenience stores.

The Police Department seeks to make changes in the environment to reduce the effects of alcohol and drugs on our youth. Recently a number of members of the Collaborative approached the Police Chief and requested that the Police Department sponsor a Social Host Ordinance. Collaborative members and Police personnel developed a Municipal Code Ordinance which allows for administrative and criminal sanctions against any adult who knowingly hosts a party where four or more juveniles consume or possess alcohol. Recently, the Palo Alto City Council unanimously passed this Social Host Ordinance.

Additionally the Police Department has two officers assigned to the high schools who are available to give presentations to classes or meet individually with students on a variety of topics. Semi-annually the Police Department also hosts other educational seminars to convenience/liquor stores.

The Police Department also sponsors an educational program known as the Parent Project for the parents of at-risk youths. The program is designed to give parents the support and additional skills to effectively raise challenging children.

How is your agency measuring progress?
The Police Department has an automated Records Management System which can track a variety of categories and information. We look at data which includes arrests of juveniles in possession of alcohol as well as drug as well as juveniles arrested for Drunk in Public and DUI. We are also very interested in the data that comes from the surveys that are conducted as part of the Social Norms Project in PAUSD.

What resources do you think your agency needs in order to achieve its goals?
The Police Department needs the entire community to be committed to reducing underage drinking and drug use. PAUSD Administration, Teachers, Parents, neighbors, police and students need to be engaged and vigilant when it comes to this topic. This harmful behavior should not be viewed as a “rite of passage” or “something that kids” do.

Contact the Palo Alto Police Department

PADACC Member Dennis Burns
E-mail: dennis.burns@cityofpaloalto.org

PADACC Member Scott Wong
E-mail: scott.wong@cityofpaloalto.org
Website: cityofpaloalto.org/depts/pol/default.asp