Program Description 

SHIELDS was formed in 1987 in response to the high incidence of infants born at Martin Luther King Hospital in South Central Los Angeles who were prenatally exposed to drugs. Utilizing a fiscal intermediary, SHIELDS implemented three programs to target the special needs of these infants. In 1991, SHIELDS incorporated as a State of California private, non-profit organization with a focus on family based services addressing issues inherent to this community. Since that time, SHIELDS has rapidly grown into a nationally recognized and respected human service agency.

SHIELDS for Families is a comprehensive, community based, non-profit organization serving families residing in South Central Los Angeles who are affected by substance abuse, child abuse/neglect, and homelessness, and as well as physical and/or emotional abuse issues within the family unit. SHIELDS' primary goals are to: (1) increase the number of drug/alcohol abusing women seeking prenatal care and treatment; (2) promote family reunification and support families remaining intact in the community; (3) strengthen families through the provision of comprehensive, collaborative services; (4) improve the general well being of families through comprehensive health programs and preventive social services; (5) promote self-sufficiency and economic independence.

Current Programs and Activities

SHIELDS has fourteen programs that serve the South Central community with a static capacity of 500 families enrolled in services which include drug treatment, family preservation, case management, and high risk youth programs. All 14 programs provide a continuum of comprehensive services that address the needs of the entire family. SHIELDS for Families drug treatment programs view substance abuse as a chronic, relapsing disorder that is biopsychosocial in nature. Treatment services provided include: individual, group, and family counseling; sexual abuse counseling; parenting and parent/child interaction classes; women's issues - topic groups; life skills training class; drug and alcohol education; relapse prevention; anger management; nutrition, HIV/AlDS, health education; basic education class which prepares clients for the G.E.D test; case management services to teach clients skills to access community services; transportation; and child care.

Population Served

SHIELDS for Families provides services to women, children, and families who reside in South Central Los Angeles inclusive of the Watts/Willowbrook and Compton communities. According to available population estimates, this area has the largest percentage of minorities in the county with an ethnic breakdown of approximately 16.5% Caucasian, 65% Latino, 33% African American, 1.8% Asian American/Pacific Islander and 2.1% other. This area also has the highest rates of unemployment and overcrowded housing units and a median income of $14,944.

Accomplishments

Since inception in 1987, SHIELDS for Families has grown rapidly into a nationally recognized and respected human service agency. It's programs have been used as models for other substance abuse treatment programs including HUD and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Programmatically, SHIELDS continues to have high retention rates in all fourteen programs and 80% of the graduating clients who are actively involved in our Aftercare/Alumni component remain drug-free. Approximately 10% of the staff are graduates of SHIELDS. Since inception the number of infants born drug exposed at Martin Luther King Hospital has been drastically reduced from 1200 annually in 1989 to 250 annually in 1995.

The increased dilemma faced by chemically dependent women and their prenatally exposed children was the catalyst for the development and growth of SHIELDS for Families Project, Inc. Seven of the SHIELDS 14 programs effectively address the needs of this special population. Since its inception in 1987, SHIELDS has made a dramatic impact in the reduction of drug exposed infants, including high risk youth, has been instrumental in strengthening and stabilizing family units through case management and home-based services, has provided education and intervention to assist families in the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and has serviced over 3,000 families affected by substance abuse in the South Central Los Angeles area with an 80% success rate.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SHIELDS for Families Project, Inc. primary goals are to: (1) decrease the incidence of substance abuse, child abuse and neglect in South Central/Compton; (2) promote family reunification and support families remaining intact in the community; (3) strengthen families through the provision of comprehensive, collaborative services; (4) improve the general well being of families through comprehensive health programs and preventive social services. SHIELDS has demonstrated effectiveness in addressing these issues holistically by providing culturally sensitive, community based and client specific drug treatment programs which address substance abuse as a chronic, relapsing disorder; biopsychosocial in nature. In 1991, SHIELDS incorporated as a State of California private, non-profit organization focusing on family based services and addressing inherent issues. SHIELDS has grown into a nationally recognized and respected human services agency. Program staff is comprised of multidisciplinary personnel who are culturally sensitive to multiproblem families in need of rehabilitation. SHIELDS was formed in 1987 in response to the high incidence of drug exposed infants born at Martin Luther King Hospital in South Central Los Angeles. SHIELD'S funding sources come from a variety of Federal, State, and County grants which minimizes and/or waivers costs to the client.