In 1990, Boston lost 62 youth aged 24 or under to homicide. At that time, members of the Boston Children’s Foundation’s (BCF) staff, in collaboration with other agencies, responded throughout Boston (and beyond), providing trauma-informed interventions, community healing efforts and supportive services. These recovery efforts helped to fuel increased economic development, improve family services;
and create community-development and youth leadership programs throughout Boston. Yet, despite varying efforts in Boston since the 90’s, violence and crime rates in Roxbury remain high. Recent (2009) Boston Police public crime statistics reported the average city violent crime rate in Boston is higher than overall rates in Massachusetts by 117.03%. In addition, for many years, Roxbury has one of the higher neighborhood city violent crime rates in Boston. Exposure to ongoing violence (such as violent crime) can lead to acute conditions, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is caused by an individual’s subjective experience due to exposure of events or the witnessing of events that are extreme and/or life threatening.2 Approximately, 25% to 30% of individuals who witness a traumatic event can develop chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or other forms of mental disorders (e.g., depression)3. Approximately 50% of those individuals who develop PTSD continue to suffer from its effects decades later without treatment. Please note these figures while in consideration of the vast number of citizens in Roxbury exposed daily to violent crimes. Unfortunately, members of the Roxbury community have been exposed to violence for years, which can and often lead to PTSD, and other related mental disorders, including addiction. Thus, community knowledge gained about traumatic stress (how it develops, how it manifests, and how it affects the lives of those who suffer with it) is a first step in its assessment and, ultimately, its treatment. Transitional Resolution Solutions (TRS)’s has over thirty years of experience providing services for acute stress disorder and PTSD due to exposure to violent crimes and other traumatic events. Providing this type of support and creating a network aimed to reduce the harm from violent acts in Roxbury is a critical component of this proposal. Thus, with funding from the Roxbury Trust Fund for Community Economic Development and Civil Engagement, TRS will initiate and develop a trauma specific program, supported and endorsed by BCF, in Roxbury, and pilot this therapeutic program to assist and treat the citizens of Roxbury exposed to violent crimes.
