Stephen Koffman, LCSW is a native of Southern California where he earned his Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. He also holds a BA from Syracuse University and completed conflict resolutions training in Northern Ireland. He has dedicated his career to working with at-risk students and adolescents both in and out of school, and is a firm believer in addressing students’ psycho-social stressors as a prerequisite to the delivery of effective instruction.
Mr. Koffman is currently the Assistant Principal at Belmont High School where he is in charge of school safety, violence prevention and interventions. In partnership with Officer Larry Covington of LAPD Rampart, he designed and implemented the 1st Juvenile Intervention and Prevention Program for at-risk adolescents in the Pico-Union community.
Mr. Koffman was the Director of Counseling for a college preparatory boarding school in Lake Tahoe. While there, he also designed and implemented one of the 1st “transitional campuses” that combined academics with the experience of the wilderness and which addressed the needs of the students who did not have the social-emotional skills to succeed in a traditional school setting. Mr. Koffman has also visited over 30 residential treatment centers, wilderness programs and emotional growth schools in 8 western states, fortifying his knowledge of and passion forcreating successful educational and special needs placements and assessments in his private practice. Mr. Koffman has designed, facilitated and led groups with a concentration on alcohol and drug abuse, depression and family systems. Mr. Koffman has worked as a school social worker and in operations for the Los Angeles Unified School District Over 15 years of diversified experience working with adolescents and their families has enabled Mr. Koffman to establish a record of accomplishments in administration, teaching, educational consulting and social work.
Officer Larry Covington is a South Los Angeles native, first appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department in December of 1994. After being assigned to the Rampart Division in 1996, Officer Covington worked the Narcotics Enforcement Team and fortified his knowledge of the needs of the Pico-Union community by working the Alvarado Corridor, Foot Beat Detail, Bike Detail and the Rampart’s Field Enforcement section.
In 1998, Officer Covington volunteered at the Community Relations Office. With his extensive knowledge and experience working with adolescents, the Community Relations Office became his primary assignment. Officer Covington has also served as CPAB Coordinator, Booster Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Coordinator for the Department of Justice’s Weed and Seed program, Special Events Coordinator and the Police Activities League Coordinator.
Officer Covington’s strong involvement and familiarity with the Pico-Union community has provided him with the foresight and knowledge to co-design the 1st Juvenile Intervention and Prevention Program with Stephen Koffman, Assistant Principal at Belmont High School.
Officer Covington is a strong believer that interaction with Police Officers in recreational, educational and athletic activities creates an avenue for adolescents to become involved in their community in a positive manner. He believes that given the right opportunities, adolescents will build a healthy and positive attitude towards the police, themselves and their community.
Cherie Hudson, MSW is a Southern California native who has been dedicated to serving at-risk youth for over ten years. Beginning with her first job instructing and supporting students with developmental and physical disabilities, Ms. Hudson became a firm believer that all young people can thrive when given meaningful opportunities, nurturing relationships, and tangible skills. Ms. Hudson went on to attend college at Seattle University before earning her BA in Sociology from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. She then earned her Master of Social Welfare from the University of California, Los Angeles where she specialized in School Social Work with Children and Youth Services.
Ms. Hudson has worked with students and families in Torrance Unified School District, Long Beach Unified School District, and currently in Los Angeles Unified School District where she is a Psychiatric Social Worker in South Los Angeles, in addition to being the Coordinator for the Juvenile Intervention and Prevention Program – JIPP. Ms. Hudson brings with her to JIPP, extensive experience in dropout prevention, intervention, and recovery; as well as clinical skills in bio-psycho-social assessments and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. While Ms. Hudson stands by the belief that education is the key to all of life’s doors, she is cognizant of the myriad obstacles challenging young people today. Thus, she is committed to seeking social justice and empowering students, families, and communities by unearthing the strengths within each system that will create lasting positive change.
