Closing the Gap Project
Who? (Introduction of Partners)
The Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) is the leading national organization whose mission is to recruit, retain and promote qualified Hispanic American men and women in the field of law enforcement. It also seeks to increase community understanding, involvement, and support through development of positive partnerships and outreach opportunities. It offers professional development opportunities, information-sharing and support networks, as well as community service projects.
As part of its partnering efforts, HAPCOA sought and received support from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a pilot educational campaign on traffic safety within three Hispanic communities. The COPS office, a component of the Department of Justice, has as its mission the advancing of community policing through partnerships and participation with the community to prevent and solve problems. NHTSA, within the Department of Transportation, is responsible for reducing injuries, deaths and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes through effective educational, engineering and enforcement programs.
At its heart the Project is a partnership of key stakeholders-including community-based organizations (CBOs), law enforcement organizations (LEOs) and the general community-who will join together to achieve Project goals.
What? (The Madrina-Padrino Public Safety Project)
HAPCOA's Madrina-Padrino Public Safety Project is a pilot educational program on traffic and public safety. It is focused specifically on educating providers at community-based organizations about traffic and safety norms and law enforcement procedures. These providers can, in turn, educate recent Hispanic immigrants they serve. The Project also seeks to increase awareness among law enforcement personnel about the special needs of recent Hispanic immigrants and thereby improve relations between the Hispanic and law enforcement communities.
The partners will increase awareness about shared public safety concerns and improve relations between law enforcement personnel and the larger community in order to reduce traffic and safety problems. Through its culturally competent approach, the project relies upon community-based organizations to serve as madrinas (godmothers) and padrinos (godfathers), or trusted friends, who pledge to ensure the community's safety and wellbeing and to counsel, advocate for and strengthen families in the pursuit of greater public safety.
HAPCOA has designed several activities to achieve its educational goal. Primarily, the Project will establish a public safety information system and network of traffic safety promoters and community activists capable of addressing the information requirements of Hispanic immigrant populations. To support this primary objective, the Project will disseminate "best practices" through education and training of Hispanic community-based organizations, the law enforcement community, and the general population.
When? (Duration of Project)
The Madrina-Padrino Public Safety Project is a one-year project that will end December 31, 2004. Currently, HAPCOA is seeking additional federal and private funding to replicate the Project.
Where? (Project Sites)
The three sites-San Antonio, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and Los Angeles, California-were selected since they have large Hispanic populations, which include recent immigrants, the group most susceptible to highway safety problems.
HAPCOA also recognized the cultural and psychographic similarities among Hispanics in the three sites, the overwhelming majority of whom are of Mexican origin or descent. In addition, over fifty percent (50%) of all Hispanics reside in California and Texas. Arizona rounds out the list of the top six most heavily populated states. Furthermore, Mexican-heritage populations constitute nearly seventy percent (70%) of the U.S. Hispanic population and, among all Hispanics, sixty-four percent (64%) are first generation.
Why? (Description of Need)
For the population as a whole, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of all injury deaths, the principal cause of on-the-job fatalities and the third leading cause of all deaths in the United States. Among those aged 4 through 33, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death.
It i estimated that Hispanics are eight times more likely to die of injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes than the general population. Crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanics aged 1 through 44, with children ages 5 to 12 at most risk. Therefore the need for traffic safety education and advocacy within Hispanic communities is even greater.
The Madrina - Padrino Public Safety Project is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (Cooperative Agreement #2002HSWXK019) and the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Cooperative Agreement DTNH 2299H95306). Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the supporting agencies.