Rec centers near gun violence hot spots will soon offer trauma therapy: ‘It’s something we never had’
Summary
Detective Michael Fahy working the crime scene at the Marie Dendy Recreation Center, where a 15-year-old was shot in the back. The offerings could be available as early as this June.On Friday afternoon, city and state officials including Mayor Jim Kenney and Lt. Gov. But the toll of gun violence is much broader: Witnessing a shooting, losing a friend or family member, or living in a neighborhood that feels unsafe can be traumatic and cause long-term emotional health problems if untreated.Of the recreation centers that will participate in the program, 8th and Diamond Playground has experienced the most violence in recent years. There have been 16 shootings within a 500-foot radius since 2015, an Inquirer analysis found.The new programs will be available to anyone who has been affected by gun violence to help them cope with post-traumatic stress, said Jordan Brogan, chief executive of the Center for Families and Relationships.That literally could be someone who have been shot, someone who witnessed a shooting, someone who lost a loved one due to gun violence, or really anyone who feels theyve been directly impacted by gun violence, she said.Brogan hopes the program will contribute to a healing process that helps more children, adults, and entire families process the trauma they experienced.In the long term, she believes that could also prevent shootings. They, too, are at risk of gun violence and experience trauma from exposure to it.\xbb READ MORE: Phillys kids are grieving alone from the far-reaching trauma of gun violence, advocates sayLast fall, Parks and Recreation staffer Tiffany Fletcher was killed by a stray bullet while maintaining the pool at Mill Creek recreation center in West Philadelphia.