Boston, Jan. 29, 2013, — At-Large Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley today re-filed her 2013 hearing order calling for improvements and investments in a coordinated city-wide trauma response system.
Councilor Pressley at a Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN) interview in November, 2013.
Over the past four years, Councilor Pressley has been leading the charge for increased access to trauma response and recovery services for residents following homicides, domestic and sexual violence, and in the aftermath of the marathon bombings. Given the high number of homicides this January and a new administration, she is renewing her efforts to ensure individuals and families impacted by violence have access to the community-based behavioral health services they need to heal.
“It is time for the City to demonstrate unequivocally, through program development and investment, that coordinated trauma support is a necessary piece of a city-wide violence prevention and intervention strategy,” said City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley. “We cannot solely pray, march, or police our way out of this. We have individuals, families and entire communities who are experiencing the symptoms of trauma, which impacts their ability to work, go to school, and to be safe.”
In 2010, following a number of homicides of young people, Councilor Pressley held a first-of-its-kind listening-only hearing for survivors of homicide. She issued the attached report recommending many reforms, including developing a city-wide trauma support system. This hearing is part of her continued advocacy for trauma response and recovery and community-based behavioral health services for residents in the aftermath of a homicide, domestic or sexual violence, and other traumatic events in the City.
The following is a BNN interview of Councilor Pressley in November 2013.