Supporting families and keeping at-risk children safe is the primary mission of Watchful Shepherd USA.
Founded in 1993 by Joseph Femiani, Watchful Shepherd USA began by providing Washington County Pennsylvania Child Protective Services with electronic monitoring devices for children living in potentially dangerous family situations. Today, the Watchful Shepherd USA program is a national non-profit family abuse prevention program that has helped protect thousands of children between the ages of 3 and 18 in an effort to prevent child abuse, family abuse, and domestic violence.
By providing at-risk children with a wristband that lets them summon local law enforcement with the press of a button at the threat of abuse or neglect, Watchful Shepherd USA helps keep families together while they receive in-home counseling and other services recommended by Child Protective Services, domestic violence agencies, and other support organizations.
Supporting Families
The program benefits children and other family members who may be at risk of abuse or domestic violence. At-risk children and families are provided with a safety technology designed to summon immediate help when they are in danger. By providing immediate access to help, Watchful Shepherd USA gives families an added sense of security, protection, and hope.
Services are provided free of charge to child abuse victims and Child Protective Services agencies. All program costs are supported through donations, fundraising efforts, and community support. Investing in the Watchful Shepherd USA approach can be significantly more cost-effective than foster care or other placements, which can cost $50,000 or more annually.
Serving the Community
Watchful Shepherd USA’s mission is to prevent the devastating consequences that can occur when children fall through the cracks of an overburdened child welfare system. Inspired by the Lifeline systems used to protect homebound senior citizens, Femiani asked, What if this technology could be used to protect children and families experiencing abuse?
Today, the program continues to provide technology that gives vulnerable children a way to call for help when they need it most. Locally, the program serves 12 Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Northumberland, Washington, and Westmoreland.
Why It Matters
The program helps address an important gap between identifying abuse and keeping a child safe while intervention takes place. As agencies face limited budgets, fewer caseworkers, and growing caseloads, Watchful Shepherd USA provides an additional tool to help protect vulnerable children.
Their goal is simple: give children a voice, give families protection, and give caseworkers peace of mind. As founder Joseph Femiani said: “These children go to bed at night with us holding their hand.”
How It Works
A discreet wristband allows the victim of child abuse or domestic violence to summon help with the press of a button.
Designed to be discreet, the device is designed to look like an everyday accessory. But when the button hidden on the back of the device is double-clicked, the device immediately texts up to five emergency contacts with a link to the user’s GPS location and sends an alert letting contacts know that help is needed.
Users can also enable a free 9-1-1 feature to connect directly with emergency dispatchers. When the button is pressed, the wristband activates an electronic device installed in the home, immediately alerting the 24/7/365 National Response Center, and trained dispatchers establish voice contact with the child within approximately 10 seconds.
The loud sound of the system and knowledge that authorities have been notified can help deter further abuse until law enforcement and Child Protective Services arrive.
The accessory is inconspicuous but alleviates any worry about needing to find a phone, open an app or make a call. A simple double click of the button makes sure that help is on the way quickly.
How You Can Support Watchful Shepherd USA
Watchful Shepherd USA is a non-profit that relies on donations. To support the program, consider a donation or participating in one of its fundraising events—like the upcoming Dancing for a Cause on Friday, October 16th.
For more information about their mission and events, visit Watchful Shepherd USA online at watchful.org, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
