09/02/10 Two Providence Agencies Win National Public Safety Award UPDATE 09/07/10 : Click here to see photos from the event. Family Service of Rhode Island and the Providence Police Department (PPD) will be honored with a MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award at a ceremony next Tuesday, September 7th at 11am at the Providence Police Headquarters. Congressman James Langevin, Mayor David Cicilline and Police Chief Dean Esserman will be on hand for this national recognition of an extraordinary local partnership that is improving public safety and strengthening community-police relations. The Award, sponsored by MetLife Foundation and administered by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), recognizes partnerships between community organizations and local police departments that have reduced crime and spurred positive development in low-income communities. The “On the Beat Multilingual Police Liaison Program”—which is a joint effort between Family Service of RI and the PPD—was selected for the honor from more than 700 applicants nationwide. At Tuesday’s celebration event, Mike Convery, Vice President, MetLife Auto & Home, and Michael Rubinger, CEO of LISC, will present a $15,000 award to the Providence partners.  Representative Langevin will also be recognized for his leadership in Congress on the issue of public safety.  The Congressman has been instrumental in securing public sector funds to help fully leverage private contributions like that of MetLife Foundation.  “Collaboration between community-based groups and police departments can reduce crime, stimulate housing and other development, and improve quality of life in low-income neighborhoods, “ said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “The partnership between Family Service of Rhode Island and the Providence Police Department is an exemplary model  for groups nationwide facing similar challenges and opportunities.  We are pleased to join LISC in recognizing and sharing their impressive work.” “Building trust between citizens and police officers is at the heart of Providence’s community policing model,” said Chief Dean Esserman. The On the Beat program does that by pairing bilingual social workers with officers responding to calls, helping officers and community members to communicate and resolve crisis situations before they escalate. Family Service of RI and PPD also work together to build neighborhood strengths through educational activities and support services. Since On the Beat was first implemented, it has received much national acclaim. Neighborhoods such as Chad Brown have seen a decline in gun and other violent crimes. Families have accessed critical services. Perhaps most importantly, they have come to see police as allies and even friends.  “This exceptional partnership between the Providence Police and Family Service of Rhode Island sets the bar for collaborations which support families and children with multiple needs,” explained Susan Erstling, senior vice president of Family Service of RI. “By offering linguistic and culturally relevant programs, true community spirit develops and then continues to grow.”   Barbara Fields, who runs the Rhode Island LISC operation, noted that this is the fifth MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award earned in Rhode Island since 2004. “History has shown that collaboration between community developers and police can yield tremendous results in neighborhoods,” said Fields. “We are thrilled to once again be joining MetLife Foundation in recognizing the Providence Police Department’s leadership in community policing, as well as the creative work of Family Service of Rhode Island.  Our city is a better place to live and work because of the outstanding efforts of these two organizations.” ### About Family Service of Rhode Island: Created in 1892, Family Service of Rhode Island is one of the oldest and largest non-profit human service agencies in Rhode Island. Its mission is to build social service partnerships that respond creatively to the unmet needs of individuals, families and communities so that people are able to live independently, advocate for themselves and improve their lives. (www.familyserviceri.org).   About LISC: Since 1980, LISC has invested more than $9 billion in capital and technical resources to support the development of healthy and resilient neighborhoods.  The Rhode Island LISC office opened in 1991.  As part of LISC’s national operations, the Community Safety Initiative supports strategic alliances between police and community developers to reduce crime, disorder and fear in troubled neighborhoods.  LISC has administered the MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Awards since 2002.  (www.lisc.org) About MetLife Foundation: MetLife Foundation, established by MetLife in 1976, supports health, education, civic and cultural programs.  The Foundation is a long-time supporter of LISC’s community revitalization programs.  In 1994, the Foundation made a $1 million leadership grant to pilot the Community Safety Initiative. MetLife and the Foundation have also made below-market rate loans and grants of almost $90 million to the organization. . For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org. Event Information: MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award Date/Time:        Tuesday, September 7th, 11:00am Location: Providence Police Department, 325 Washington Street, Providence, RI 02903 (end)