Oral

To introduce the concept, application and best practices of Trauma-Informed Care for preventing and intervening with young men of color who are repeatedly exposed to trauma and who suffer from the negative physical and mental consequences of involvement in violence. By every conceivable measure, violence is an epidemic among young Black men. Perhaps the simplest measure is that, among 10 to 24 year-olds, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans (CDC, 2010). Exposure to trauma, particularly violence, has staggering short- and long-term effects on physical, emotional and social wellbeing that shorten the lifespan and decrease quality of life. These effects range from increased likelihood of heart and lung disease, drug use and obesity, and depression and anxiety. This is a major factor explaining why African American males have a higher age-adjusted death rate than any other group (CDC, 2003). It is our contention that men of color, because they are disproportionately affected by violence and disproportionately underserved by the traditional health care system, are suffering the most from lack of adequate assessment and care for their exposure to trauma.

Session Objectives: 1. To define a public health model for understanding the epidemiology of violence and its connection to trauma 2. To understand the consequences of violent trauma on boys and men of color who are underserved or ignored by the public health system 3. To learn how to apply the principles of trauma-informed care when working with an acutely traumatized population 4. To share challenges and successes for programs young men of color affected by violence 5. To explore trans-disciplinary practice and policy solutions by examining diverse program models that address violence in various communities