Social Services Division

On average, 1 in 5 Americans will experience mental illness or substance abuse in a given year, with number of mental illnesses among youth steadily rising. The Griffith Police Department recognizes the increasing need for individuals to not only have access to resources designed to address needs specific to a mental health diagnosis, but also to resources focusing on child/elder abuse or neglect, sexual assault, domestic violence, and basic needs.

The Social Services Division (SSD) was created to provide specialized assistance to citizens in the community, beyond the normal scope of police work. The goal of  the SSD is to foster partnerships within Northwest Indiana, developing strategies to help identify unmet needs, improve quality of life, and strengthen the community. The SSD works closely with the Crime Analysis Unit to identify trending social issues, the Patrol and Detective Divisions to assess individuals in need, and the Griffith Public Schools to implement preventative services and educational programs to the community's youth population.

The SSD receives referral from police personnel who feel someone may be at risk for the future police involvement and in need of intervention or social services. Self-referrals are also accepted. Juveniles with frequent behavior issues, school suspensions, or police contact are routed to the Social Services Division by the Griffith Public Schools or Detective Division.

The Social Services Division provides the following services:

• Risk assessment and referral for individuals, couples, and families dealing with domestic violence, child/parent issues, mental-health issues, grief and loss, sexual assault, substance abuse, elder-care issues, and runaway/lockout issues
• Crisis intervention and court advocacy for victims of sexual assault and violent crimes
• Emergency financial assistance  and assistance with applications under the Crime Victim Compensation Act
• Conducts community education and in-house police training on victim issues
• Information and referral for additional services to meet basic needs

The Griffith Police Department employs a full time master level social worker, Erica Rios, MSW, LSW, and a part-time Social Services Coordinator, Halie Gonlag, MSW, LSW, to provide social services to town residents and victims of crimes.  Ms. Rios represents the Department on the Lake County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and represents the Griffith Public Schools on the Supporting Addiction Free Environments (SAFE) board. 

Read this NWI Times article to learn more about Ms. Rios and the program she facilities.