Providence RI Youth Safe Haven Program

Providence Community Opportunities Corp.
100 Broad Street
Providence, RI 02903

Executive Director: Stephen O’Rourke

Program Director: Bernice Morris

The Providence, RI Youth Safe Haven-Police Ministation program is a predominantly Latino/a program located in the Hartford Park Community of Providence.

The program has developed a solid staff that is diverse and has a good background in youth work. The program operates 5 days a week from 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The police assigned to the safe haven have 12 hour shifts that allows for coverage of the program when the Safe Haven is open but also allows for covering of the community once the safe haven is closed for the day. The police have an excellent opportunity at problem oriented community policing success with this type of schedule.

The program consists of educational achievement, mentoring, police mentoring, problem oriented community policing and learning health and safety.

One of the highlights of the Providence program is their partnership with Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education (RISE), a state-wide mentoring initiative that has allowed for one-on-one mentoring for the Providence Youth Safe Haven-Police Ministation.