Background
With funding from the PCCD's Violence and Intervention Prevention fund, this project aims to enhance trauma informed services through collaboration, coordination, and training with community, school, law enforcement, and behavioral health providers in Blair County, resulting in enhanced recognition/treatment of trauma, improved trajectories of children and families, and mitigation of community violence. The consortium advising and implementing this work comprises stakeholders from the UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care; Community Care Behavioral Health Organization; Blair HealthChoices; Blair Drug and Alcohol Partnerships; Blair Family Solutions; Family Services - Child Advocacy Center; Impact Counseling; LaRocco Counseling.
Healthcare Challenge
Exposure to violence is a traumatic event that negatively impacts the health and development of the children in our communities. Research has found that subsequent trauma symptoms from both experiencing and perpetrating violent crime during childhood is associated with chronic physical health conditions, emotional disturbance, and substance abuse. Building a trauma informed community is essential to developing resilient children and families.
Goals
Through this project, we will close gaps in training on evidence-based treatments and service coordination by developing a trauma-informed community across child serving agencies in Blair County.
Implementation Approach
Funds will support a three-pronged approach:
- convening and facilitating a county-wide workgroup to refine a trauma-informed vision and strategic plan
- developing health, education, and criminal justice partners into trauma-sensitive professionals through tailored trainings
- implementing a core set of trauma-informed behavioral health services and supports for children and their caregivers
The project aims to integrate an understanding of trauma at every level so that anyone who interacts with those who have experienced trauma understands the impact of trauma and can provide a welcoming and safe environment. The Family Trauma-Informed Community project will offer a series of trainings and educational sessions on trauma and provide an opportunity to learn from other organizations and build partnerships through a Learning Collaborative.