nothin The Youngest Trauma Victims, Engaged | New Haven Independent

The Youngest Trauma Victims, Engaged

rosa%20and%20steve.JPGSome 100 people marked Sept. 11 by hearing about New Haven’s most celebrated effort of helping children traumatized by violence, from two of the effort’s founders: U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Yale professor Steven Marans (pictured).

p(clear). The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence was modeled on the successful collaboration of New Haven’s police department and the Yale Child Study Center, beginning in 1991, in helping children cope with violence they experience at home or in their communities. The national center was established in 1999 at Yale by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

p(clear). steve.JPGMarans, a child psychologist, explained his mission to about 100 people gathered at Union League Café Thursday night. Listening to those who’ve been traumatized is fundamental, he said. It’s so hard to pay attention to the things that are so terrifying to all of us long enough to understand what’s going on,” he said, what it is that’s got us so frightened, and then, what are we going to be able to do about it.” He said an important first step is just asking children to tell their version of events.

p(clear). He screened a short video (dated, as the assistant chief, Bryan Norwood, is now chief of police in Bridgeport; several people seemed to have aged substantially since they were filmed) showing how New Haven cops on community policing beats interacted with children who had experienced violence. At least one officer broke down telling his story. The video clearly packed an emotional punch for many audience members as well.

p(clear). The New Haven initiative — called Child Development-Community Policing Program, or CDCP — has been replicated in 16 other cities. Through the national center, experts from law enforcement, juvenile justice, domestic violence, medical and mental health fields have worked with traumatized youngsters affected by school shootings, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina.

p(clear). rosa.JPGDeLauro has worked on the issue for many years, helping secure federal funding and speaking passionately about the need to protect all children from violence, including the three million who annually witness domestic violence. She said there is a path to healing; it involves both remembering and recovering. Click here to listen to some daunting statistics about youth and violence, but also some good news about positive outcomes when vulnerable kids get into what DeLauro called quality early intervention programs.”

p(clear). lee%20and%20stan%20welch.JPGDuring dinner, Lee Cruz (on the left) of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and Stanley Welch, of DeLauro’s New Haven office, were having an animated discussion.

p(clear). bonita%20and%20lindy.JPGBonita Grubbs (on the left, with former alderwoman and community activist Lindy Gold) knows a thing or two about traumatized children — and adults — from her many years running Christian Community Action, which serves homeless and formerly homeless families.

p(clear). will%20ginsberg.JPGA lot of movers and shakers were there, including Will Ginsberg, president of the Community Foundation (pictured with Lindy Gold’s pearl earring on the left)…

p(clear). group%20with%20anne%20c.JPG…and Anne Calabresi (pictured in the middle of the audience), one of the founders of New Haven’s International Festival and LEAP, another youth program incubated in New Haven that’s served as a national model.

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