At-Risk Youth Improving Their Lives Through VIDA

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Vital Intervention & Directional Alternatives (VIDA) 16-week program for at-risk youth

Vital Intervention and Directional Alternatives (VIDA) is a structured 16-week program for non-violent, at-risk youth between the ages of 11 and 17½ who are struggling with parent relationships, academics, anti-social peers/attitudes and making smart decisions. Typically, participants are referred to the program through a community agency. Participants are then interviewed by trained VIDA staff members to determine if they meet the program’s targeted risk level. Parents can also enroll their children in the program.

Although facilitated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the program is a collaboration between community-based organizations, volunteers, schools and families. The overall goal of the program is to teach youth the value of effective decision-making and taking responsibility for their futures.

The program originated as the dream of a group of East Los Angeles Station deputy sheriffs who wanted to help troubled youth and their families. Since its inception in 1996, VIDA has grown into a comprehensive re-directional program with eight locations across Los Angeles County.

VIDA is a structured, 16-week program that requires both participant and parent/guardian(s) to commit themselves fully in order to see results. The process begins when an at-risk youth is referred to the program. Referring agencies often include courts, law enforcement, the Department of Child and Family Services, Probation Department, school districts, parents and religious institutions.

Upon referral, youths complete an intake interview with trained VIDA staff members. During the interview, the applicant’s risk level is assessed to determine if the youth meets the program’s targeted level of moderate to high risk of offending/reoffending.

Following the interview and selection for the program, youths attend an orientation night with their families. Once the program begins, VIDA staff members conduct home and school visits during the week to monitor social behaviors, reduce truancy and improve academic performance.

The mid-week re-directional component focuses on the student’s most pressing risk factors. Depending on the student, these range from family issues, educational issues, vocational skills and employment, to anger issues, self-control skills, anti-social attitudes, substance abuse and anti-social peer contacts.

Working to lower these factors involves addressing how the student interacts with the community and developing pro-social attitudes while reducing negative peer contacts.

Students spend eight hours on Saturdays at the VIDA site closest to their homes. The Saturday component focuses on students’ perceptions of themselves in relation to the community and authority figures. Staff members tackle topics such as personal health and hygiene, physical conditioning, individual and group dynamics, life responsibilities, negative peer groups, community stewardship and revitalization, and gender-sensitive issues.

In addition to the mid-week and Saturday components, students spend one night per week, along with their parents, participating in a 2 hour group class that targets family issues. The goal of these sessions is to slowly rebuild damaged relationships and equip both the parent and child with problem-solving skills that increase positive communication and understanding.

At the conclusion of the program, each participant receives a certificate of completion and is referred to other community-based programs to continue their individual goals and careers.

Our goal is for the VIDA students and their families to emerge with stronger bonds in place, as well as better judgment, integrity, initiative, respect and a new take on life. After all, VIDA is life.

VIDA offers classes at eight sites: Altadena, Compton, East LA, Lakewood, Lancaster, South LA, Palmdale and Santa Clarita.  Classes are scheduled for (subject to change):
VIDA Class 21 First Saturday – Feb 12, 2011 – ends June 11, 2011
VIDA Class 22 First Saturday – Aug 13, 2011 – ends Dec 3, 2011
VIDA Class 23 First Saturday – Feb 11, 2012 – ends June 10, 2012
VIDA Class 24 First Saturday – Aug 11, 2012 – ends Dec 1, 2012

To learn more or to request an appointment, visit the VIDA website: http://www.vida.la/index.php

– c. Los Angeles Sherrif's Department, Vital Intervention & Directional Alternatives

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FAA to Impose Civil Penalties for Pointing Lasers into Cockpits

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Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced today that the FAA will begin to impose civil penalties against people who point a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft.

“Our top priority is protecting the safety of the traveling public. We will not hesitate to take tough action against anyone who threatens the safety of our passengers, pilots and air transportation system,” said Secretary LaHood.

“Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is not a joke. These lasers can temporarily blind a pilot and make it impossible to safely land the aircraft, jeopardizing the safety of the passengers and people on the ground,” said FAA Administrator Babbitt.

The maximum civil penalty the FAA can impose on an individual for violating the FAA’s regulations that prohibit interfering with a flight crew is $11,000 per violation.

This year, pilots have reported more than 1,100 incidents nationwide of lasers being pointed at aircraft. Laser event reports have steadily increased since the FAA created a formal reporting system in 2005 to collect information from pilots. Reports rose from nearly 300 in 2005 to 1,527 in 2009 and 2,836 in 2010.

In 2010, Los Angeles International Airport recorded the highest number of laser events in the country for an individual airport with 102 reports, and the greater Los Angeles area tallied nearly twice that number, with 201 reports.  So far this year, LAX has recorded 30 laser events.


Legislation that would criminalize purposefully aiming a laser device at an aircraft is currently pending in Congress. The Senate included this language in the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, which it passed on 17 Feb 2011. On 28 Feb, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would enact a similar penalty for shining lasers at aircraft. Both bills are awaiting further action.

How a laser affects a pilot's vision. [Source: FAA]

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is extremely dangerous and is a felony punishable by up to three years in California state prison and a fine of $2,000. It can also be a Federal offense, punishable by 20 years in Federal Prison. The FAA is prepared to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to assist with criminal prosecutions arising under these laws.

"When the laser hits the plexiglass windshield, it refracts the light and fills the cockpit with laser light, causing disorientaiton or temporary blindness. It has caused long term damage to some pilots," said Sergeant Morrie Zager, a helicopter pilot assigned to Sheriff's Aero Bureau. "This is a serious matter. The pilot's disorientation could cause loss of control of the aircraft."

Another person who pointed a laser at a sheriff's helicopter was arrested this past week. In the past seven months, helicopter pilots and Aero Bureau aircraft from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had lasers pointed at them six times while in flight. Four suspects have been arrested.

The most recent incident occurred on Tuesday night, 26 April, at 10:47 p.m.

Sheriff's deputy pilots flying a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter reported to deputies on the ground that a person in a car near the Interstate 5 freeway and Rosemead Boulevard was pointing a laser at them.

Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station deputies immediately responded and stopped the car which was traveling south on the 605 freeway. The occupants of the car, including a 16-year old Asian male resident of Los Alamitos who pointed the laser at the aircraft, were detained by deputies. A green laser pen light was found in the juvenile's possession. The suspect admitted that he shined the light at the sheriff's helicopter as it was flying overhead.

The suspect was arrested and transported to Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station. He was later released to his parents and ordered to appear in juvenile court to face the felony charge.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported by either the sheriff's helicopter pilot or the tactical flight deputy.

During previous incidents, pilots have been so distracted or disoriented by laser lights, they have had to land, cancel landings, or take evasive action resulting in not being able to help the public, in order to ensure the safety of flight crews and people on the ground.

Sheriff's deputies, police officers and all law enforcement ask that for the safety of the pilots and people on the ground, if you see someone point a laser at an aircraft, immediately call 9-1-1 and report it.

– c. Federal Aviation Administration, Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department; p. R. Nelson

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Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Know How Not To Heat Your Home.

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A not uncommon story:  "Two die of carbon monoxide poison while trying to heat their residence."  The following is a story reported by Los Angeles Sherrif's Department, but such a tragic incident may happen anywhere.  Read the LASD story below and continue reading about CO dangers in your own home from the CDC and how to avoid it:

Two women tragically lost their lives in Willowbrook when they apparently used their kitchen oven to provide heat inside their home. They were found Saturday at about 4:30PM. Preliminarily, Carbon monoxide fumes from the oven are believed to have resulted in their deaths.

At 4:30 PM, 01/01/11, deputies from Century Sheriff's Station responded to a rescue call in the 2200 block of El Segundo Boulevard, Willowbrook.

When they arrived, they were met by a family member who told them that after not receiving a response to phone calls, she drove there in order to check on the 63-year old woman and her 81 year-old mother. The family member said she went inside the residence and immediately smelled a strong odor of gas. She found the oven to be turned on and closed the oven door before quickly exiting the residence. She then called Century Sheriff's Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for emergency help.

Hearing the family member's concerns and observations, deputies quickly entered the residence and found the two victims apparently deceased.

Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters also responded and detected extremely high levels of carbon monoxide within the residence. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide investigators responded to the residence to conduct their investigation. Century Sheriff's Station on-call clergy personnel were also summoned to the scene and assisted deputies with grieving family members.

Preliminarily, it appears as though the victims had opened the oven door and turned the oven on in order to heat their residence.

 Carbon Monoxide information from the US Center for Disease Control (CDC):

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death.

Where is CO found?

CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned by breathing it.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of CO inhalation can cause loss of consciousness and death. Unless suspected, CO poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other illnesses. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.

How does CO poisoning work?

Red blood cells pick up CO quicker than they pick up oxygen. If there is a lot of CO in the air, the body may replace oxygen in blood with CO. This blocks oxygen from getting into the body, which can damage tissues and result in death.

Who is at risk from CO poisoning?

All people and animals are at risk for CO poisoning. Certain groups — unborn babies, infants, and people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems — are more susceptible to its effects. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to CO poisoning. Fatality is highest among Americans 65 and older.

NEVER heat your home by using a natural gas/propane stove or oven,  kerosene/propane space heater, or charcoal grill. Carbon Monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of the fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires.

For more info, see the CDC website.

Watch the short video about Home Heating Safety Tips from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

content: Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, R. Nelson • post: R. Nelson

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