Kids and Trauma
Promoting the Health of Children and Adolescents Exposed to Trauma and Violence
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Children and adolescents exposed to trauma and violence may exhibit moderate to severe psycho-social-emotional health problems.[1] Similarly, children and adolescents exposed to trauma and violence may be at high-risk for exposure to sexually transmitted infections or sexually transmitted diseases including human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other adverse situations, conditions or environments.[2,3] In collaboration with the Michigan Department of Community Health, New Center Community Mental Health Services of Detroit, Michigan, the Primary Care Office in Detroit, as well as, with other Partners, Volunteers, Collaborating Agencies and Organizations, The Safer Tomorrows: Injury Prevention and Violence Reduction Project© is identifying children and adolescents who are at-risk and who may or may not be at-risk for exposure to trauma and violence in their lives. The purpose of the evidence-based intervention/program is to assist this population of children, adolescents, and families by identifying services and programs to enhance their overall health and well-being.
Similarly, we plan to proactively promote the healing and restoration of this population. One of the proposed significant outcomes is The Safer Tomorrows Project Case Management Research Practice Model©. This model consists of a structured format which addresses the issues of (1) safety nets for children and adolescents who may need immediate, acute, short or long term multidisciplinary health care services, (2) access to services, resources, and programs, (3) coordination of services with local multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary community-based professionals and volunteers, and (4) global health education around the themes of injury prevention, violence reduction, and healthy peaceful conflict evidence-based resolutions or strategies. Multidisciplinary health and interdisciplinary professionals or providers and volunteers are called to help promote the healing and restoration of adolescents, children, families and communities who are at-risk and who may or may not be at-risk for exposure to trauma and violence.
The Safer Tomorrows: Injury Prevention and Violence Reduction Project© is trying to confront and eliminate these disparate social justice, economic, and health care concerns for this population of children, adolescents, and families. Also, Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Physician Assistants (PAs) or other Health Care Providers (HCPs) in the primary care setting are in a unique position to assist and motivate a societal and behavioral change for this population of children, adolescents, families and communities who are at-risk and who may or may not be at-risk for exposure to trauma and violence. Thus, it is imperative that NPs, PAs, or other HCPs engage in this endeavor to promote the healing and restoration of this population of children, adolescents, families and communities.
Clarissa Agee Shavers, DNSc, WHNP – BC, TRECOS Fellow
Principal Investigator and Program Director
The Safer Tomorrows: Injury Prevention and Violence Reduction Project©
Primary Care Office
Detroit, Michigan
Published on September 21, 2010
References
- Shavers CA. Minimize impact of violence for young people. The Clinical Advisor: A Forum for Nurse Practitioners. 2009:74.
- Wilson HW, Widom CS. Sexually transmitted diseases among adults who had been abused and neglected as children: a 30-year prospective study. Am J Public Health. 2009:99(Suppl 1):S197-S203.
- Shavers CA, Levendosky AA, Dubay, SM et al. Domestic violence research: Methodological issues related to a community-based intervention with a vulnerable population. J Appl Biobehav Res. 2005;10(1):27-38.
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