The Trauma Response Program at ChildSavers is a round-the-clock response to children and families exposed to a traumatic event in the city of Richmond . Through our partnerships with the city’s first responders, the Trauma Response team is able to provide instantaneous emotional support and mental health services to youth. Trauma Response is a comprehensive set of services that will reduce the effects of violence on children by:

• providing immediate on-site mental health response services to children affected by violence and/or trauma

• promoting the development of a non-violent community through extensive community education and training

 

“A trauma includes events that a person perceived as life threatening.”
-Francine Shapiro, Ph.D & Margot Silk Forrest, 1997

Social Service workers and police officers estimate that nearly 6,000 children in Richmond have experienced or witnessed a level of violence significant enough to impact their emotional development and/or their ability to succeed in school, work, or other areas of their life. During the 2006/07 program year (7/1/06 through 6/30/07), the Trauma Response team arrived on 134 trauma scenes and worked with 285 children affected by a traumatic event.  In the weeks following the traumatic event, affected children come to our Clinic to see a trauma treatment therapist through the Trauma Response program for approximately 10 sessions and, if necessary, subsequently transfer into our Guidance Clinic for longer-term treatment. 

Trauma is a leading cause of childhood mental health problems. ChildSavers' Guidance Clinic works with between 375 and 425 children and their families each year. Of these children, about 85% have diagnoses related to violence, and up to 20% have witnessed murders or murder scenes. 

Trauma Response builds on our organization's mental health assets, strength, and community relationships to form the catalyst and foundation for a comprehensive community response to the full range of issues and needs related to violence and its impact on children.

If you suspect that your child or student may have experienced a traumatizing event, please check out our Symptoms of Trauma list. If you recognize any of these signs or symptoms or have concerns about your child’s mental health, please consult a professional. You can reach a professional at ChildSavers by phoning (804) 644-9590 and asking for a Trauma Response therapist.

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Learn about a community-based support group for parents who have suffered the death of a child