Birmingham, AL
Director: Vincent Hinton
2501 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205) 326-0162
The Youth Safe Haven program has children involved with both civilian staff and police officers. In a neighborhood that has long distrusted the police, bridges are being built and increasingly the police are being viewed as a positive factor in the neighborhood. There is an increased sense of safety, but the youths are also seeing improvement in their grades and new bridges are being built with the teachers and counselors. It is expected that when the first semester’s grades become available, there will be preliminary indications of the positive impact of the program.
The Youth Safe Haven/Police Ministation began operation in fall 2005, with two full-time civilian staff, two full-time police officers (one who grew up in the area)0, and two part-time officers to help during the critical period from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The housing area hosting the program has provided a small gym and classroom, and was to renovate additional space for the program. The renovation was delayed by the need to prepare housing to receive Hurricane Katrina evacuees. This has not delayed the provision of services, nor dampened the enthusiasm for the program.