More than a decade ago, Rosemary Alamo, teaching professor of practicum education, and Rick Ornelas, associate teaching professor of practicum education, both at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, established the Social Work and Public Safety Program at USC. It provides Master of Social Work (MSW) students with an opportunity for internships within metropolitan police departments and community public safety organizations. Partner agencies span across California, Nevada and Washington, with students collaborating closely with interprofessional and multidisciplinary teams, including police officers, probation officers, attorneys, judges, higher education personnel, firefighters and mental health providers. Offering a holistic approach to serving individuals through support, education and training, the program fosters a capacity-building partnership between social work and the legal system.

For Lauren Starnes and Seth Derrick, who receive their MSW in May 2025, their placements were an immersive experience of using social work to support, engage and educate youth and public safety officers while effecting real change for individuals and communities. Starnes was placed at the Gardena Juvenile Justice and Intervention Program (GJJIP) through the Gardena Police Department, and Derrick with the USC Department of Public Safety Cadet Program. Within their respective placements, both engaged in a unique reciprocal education platform focused on strengthening the relationships of law enforcement and public safety agencies with their communities. 

“I am now able to see how public safety works through a social work lens, as well as how it functions within a police setting,” Starnes said. “They are two very different entities and we’re trying to bridge the gap and better serve the people.”

Through the Social Work and Public Safety Program, students are involved in counseling, crisis intervention, trauma-informed practice, parenting classes, case management and needs assessment. Alamo and Ornelas have built a pathway for students to apply their social work skills in real-world practice situations that allows both sides to learn from each other and better address social issues going forward.

Creating a fresh start for at-risk youth

Prior to USC, Starnes worked as a clinical case manager for an organization providing services for veterans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. During this time, she observed significant obstacles and policy shortcomings affecting the veterans she served. It was this experience that convinced Starnes to pursue a social work degree. 

Her interest in the Social Work and Public Safety Program was the opportunity to build on her background in clinical psychology and advocacy. Starnes’ practicum placement at the GJJIP placed her among a team of case managers, clinicians and police officers working together to divert at-risk youth from the juvenile justice system.

“Lauren's placement at the GJJIP was a deliberate choice, given her exceptional ability to navigate social work's micro and macro dimensions,” Alamo said. “This multidisciplinary environment allowed her to thrive and significantly contributed to the program's mission of helping youth become productive and engaged members of society.”

According to Starnes, the GJJIP is like no other in Los Angeles County for applying this kind of diversion method: instead of entering the juvenile justice system, youth cited by police participate in a comprehensive support program that includes case management, therapy, life skills training, mentoring and community service. Upon completion, their citations are dismissed, giving them a fresh start.

“The experience has been a roller coaster,” Starnes said. “Working with this population may be the most challenging but also the most rewarding, witnessing the clients reclaim their lives and discover new purpose.” 

Starnes describes how youth who were initially resistant to therapy or had an aversion to police officers came to trust and engage with the team. In particular, the lead detective actively helps the youth to gain acceptance that there are police officers who care and want to help them. 

“There’s one graduate of the GJJIP who works for the City of Gardena now and comes in every day to talk to the detective before he goes to his job,” Starnes said. “He was part of the program when he was about 13, and six years later returns every day to keep connected.”

Monthly interdisciplinary training sessions, such as those on trauma and human trafficking, gave Starnes and her social work colleagues on the team the tools to understand and address the complex needs of their clients while also helping police officers develop a deeper understanding of the mental health concerns connected with these experiences. Learning together, police and social workers are able to watch out for indicators of certain behavioral problems and proactively address them as a team. Additionally, Starnes was involved with local schools, meeting with students to discuss the impact of drug use and facilitating life skills courses. Throughout the placement, Starnes had weekly sessions from a licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) embedded within the police department who provided supervision and guidance.

Starnes plans to continue her advocacy for at-risk populations, with an eye toward policy change through public office.

From computer mapping to therapeutic support

Although Seth Derrick began his professional journey computer mapping, he felt unfulfilled. Then he stumbled upon an entry level job as a mental health specialist for children with severe emotional needs which led him to follow a path to social work.

“I loved it right out of the gate,” Derrick said. “The children were amazing. I had some childhood trauma myself and so being there for kids that experienced trauma resonated with me, hit my heart strings and I was sold on social work.”

Before beginning his MSW studies at USC, Derrick worked with law enforcement to support individuals experiencing homelessness with a nonprofit in Nevada County California. Based on this experience in his background, when Derrick expressed interest in the Social Work and Public Safety Program, Alamo and Ornelas tapped him for the DPS Cadet Program. 

“Placing Seth in the DPS Cadet Program was an intentional decision, recognizing his strong ethical foundation and ability to connect meaningfully with youth,” said Ornelas, a retired sergeant from the Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) with over thirty-four years of law enforcement experience. “His presence enriched the cadet experience and contributed meaningfully to a program prioritizing mentorship, public service and positive youth development.” 

In the cadet program, area youth ages 13-17 complete specialized training, including physical fitness, crime prevention and assisting with crowd control at USC football games and special events. Derrick describes himself as “therapeutic support” — there to help the cadets with whatever issues may come up regarding family, school or the program itself. 

“I provide an impartial person to talk to and interact with in a therapeutic manner to support them with any difficulties they’re having,” Derrick said. “I help them look at their behaviors and feelings and introduce interventions like mindfulness and meditation to try when they feel like acting out.”

The cadet program has about 40 active participants at any given time and is structured to have older cadets mentor the newer ones. All cadets participate in community service and leadership activities, creating a supportive environment for personal and academic growth. Those entering the program may struggle with family, school or behavioral issues, and the program helps them engage in extracurricular activities in an effort to support their educational and life goals.

This collaborative experience of integrating the classroom into direct practice has inspired Derrick to pursue more opportunities to work in settings where social work and public safety intersect, post-graduation.

"Working with the Department of Public Safety Cadet Program showed me how powerful therapeutic intervention and mentorship can be,” Derrick said. “It made me realize that social work in this setting isn’t just about crisis response, it’s about shaping futures. My experience has been an honor, and I hope to work with law enforcement programs in the future.”