When Trauma Happens A child may:  Feel numb or shock  Avoid people and places that remind them of the event  Have nightmares or strong memories of the event  Be very afraid, angry, or sad  Have trouble sleeping or paying attention  Feel helpless and hopeless  Be very tired and worn out  Have aches and pains Experiencing chronic community violence can be enough to rob children of their sense of safety and can affect children’s outlook on the future and their sense of control. Trauma & Community Violence When Community Violence Happens A child may:  Not know who to trust  Be on edge all the time, like something’s going to happen  Worry about other family members being hurt  Feel angry even when nobody is messing with them  Get jumpy or nervous at the smallest things or little sounds.  Cannot stop thinking about violence, and how it’s never going to end Together we can help our children begin to heal and thrive, if we take a stand against community violence. Created by KCPD Social Services, 2018 Information for Families Community Support Services What is Trauma? Ad-Hoc 816-861-5500 Trauma is a scary, dangerous, or violent event that can happen to any or all members of a family. Some types of trauma families may go through are:       Accidents or injuries Serious illness Sudden loss of a loved one Violence within the family Abuse / Neglect Homelessness What is Community Violence? Community Violence is when someone purposely attempts to hurt one or more persons in public spaces. This includes: homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, physical assaults, and using weapons to do harm. Children exposed to community violence are more fearful, believe violence can happen at anytime, and see the world as an unsafe place. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Children’s Mercy Child & Family Therapy Services 816-234-3670 The Children’s Place 816-363-1898 Working Through Trauma Some children get better with time and the support from family and friends. Some children and their families may need to speak to a doctor, school counselor, spiritual leader, or mental health provider. Cornerstones of Care multiple locations 855-778-5437, option 5 Family Conservancy 913-742-4347 en espanol 913-573-1110 Maddie Rhodes (2 locations) 816-471-2536 (Westside) 816-241-3780 (Northeast) Spanish Services available Swope Behavioral Health 816-922-1070 Synergy Services 816-587-4100 Truman Medical Center 816-404-5755 All agencies offer a sliding scale— Many accept Medicaid. https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/community-violence