DR. EMERALD RANDOLPH

Dr. Emerald Randolph’s accomplishments began in 1993 when she retired from the Chula Vista Elementary School District and became a volunteer with the City of Chula Vista. In 1993, officials the Chula Vista police and fire departments believed there was a need to provide compassionate, supportive assistance to families of trauma victims. Police and firefighters were unable to give this support, as they were busy doing their jobs. Randolph was asked if she could train such a team, and the result was the Citizens Adversity Support Team (CAST).

CAST’s highly trained volunteers respond when called by police or firefighters, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To date they have responded to 2,100 calls. These calls include deaths in homes or hospitals, sexual assaults, child or elder abuse, domestic violence, automobile accidents, suicides, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, drowning or fire.

In addition to implementing and participating as a member of this outstanding trauma intervention team, she directs the program and oversees the annual training of new members. Randolph solicited the services of many professionals who return year after year, donating their time and providing nearly 80 hours of intensive training.

Randolph developed and ran the Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order Clinic at the South Bay County Courthouse for eight years where she also established a Children’s Waiting Room. She has served the Domestic Violence Coalition for nine years, chaired the South Bay Lawyer Referral Group for eight years: served as chair and member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club for five years, and served on the Salvation Army Board for six years.

Randolph is a strong advocate for children and the elderly, working closely with Child and Adult Protective Services. As part of the Domestic Violence Coalition, she was instrumental in getting domestic violence hotline numbers on the back of grocery receipts. She puts more than 60 miles a day on her old Toyota truck, traveling from her home in Jamul to Chula Vista and driving around town.

Randolph received two Channel 10 Leadership Awards from the local ABC station for starting the CAST program and the Children’s Waiting Room. She received the Governor’s Award for Assisting Victims of Crime. Her efforts and that of CAST were mentioned briefly in local newspapers when the team assisted with such events as a shooting at a retirement home, rape of an elderly woman in retirement complex, a tragic drag racing accident, and an officer involved shooting of a suspected car thief in a local apartment complex. CAST was featured on the California Governor’s Volunteer Web site.