Overview: My proposed trauma-informed project aims to mitigate the impact of gentrification on mental health by building community and individual resilience. I chose this topic with both personal and professional interests in mind. Gentrification can be a traumatic experience for disadvantaged individuals, in particular African Americans, who constantly face pressures of insecurity, loss, and the exacerbation of other socio-environmental disadvantages (Anguelovski et al., 2021). In Alachua County, mental health issues were ranked as the second highest health problem. Specifically, East Gainesville residents have expressed concerns about gentrification which can exacerbate mental health conditions (WellFlorida Council, 2020; Halaly, 2021). To address these needs, my project aims to assist East Gainesville residents by increasing knowledge of mental health issues, social support, and empowerment.
Trauma-Informed Principles: To keep trauma-informed principles at the forefront of project activities and to ensure community members are approached in a trauma-informed manner, all project team members, including the community advisory board (CAB), will undergo cultural competency and historical trauma training. These trainings also address the principle of cultural, historical, and gender issues, by ensuring our representatives can properly respond to the racial, ethnic, and cultural needs of our clients without retraumatizing them by fighting against biases (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016). Integrating the CAB ensures the inclusion of voices most affected by gentrification thereby adhering to the trauma-informed principle of empowerment and voice (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016; SAMHSA, 2014). This also demonstrates a recognition that everyone has a role in a trauma-informed approach and adheres to the principle of collaboration and mutuality (SAMHSA, 2014). Providing community members with a leadership role on the CAB levels the power differences between project staff and clients. To adhere to being trauma-informed, project staff will practice listening with humility even if feedback provided by the community requires changing our goals or objectives (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016; SAMHSA, 2014). Providing a safe space for this feedback can help correct the power imbalance between project staff and clients which can greatly benefit residents of East Gainesville who may already experience extreme power imbalance as they are displaced from their homes (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016; Hwang & Ding, 2020).
Levels of the Social Ecological Model: I used the CDC’s Social Ecological Model (2022) as my project seeks to mitigate the potentially violent impacts of gentrification which aligns directly with the purpose of the CDC’s model to better understand violence and the impact of violence prevention strategies. Project activities like pre- and post- intervention mental health assessments, an individual level intervention, will help participants identify their mental health status as a factor that may increase the likelihood of experiencing future violence (CDC, 2022). At the relationship level, social support groups will provide a safe space for group development and discussion of the impacts of gentrification. Photovoice allows participants to capture photographic evidence of their changing neighborhood, which may serve as a catalyst for demand to generate change at the community level (Hwang & Sampson, 2014). By demonstrating gentrification’s impact on mental health, this project aims for its future work to continue by advocating for change at the societal level in the form of policies that provide resources for minorities experiencing gentrification.
Public Health Framework: As I value the importance of incorporating a multidisciplinary approach, my project proposes cross-sector collaborations with Alachua County officials and Gainesville community organizations, to prevent trauma and promote healing in East Gainesville (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016). My project has a multi-level prevention focus addressing each of the three levels of prevention (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016). The target population for this grant includes East Gainesville residents who have experienced or are currently experiencing gentrification, which allows project staff to reach those who may have developed or may soon develop mental health issues linked to gentrification. We will complete mental health assessments to determine the prevalence of mental health issues in East Gainesville and provide those with mental illness(es) resources to improve their quality of life. Once prevalence is established, we aim to prevent mental illness from developing by providing social supports to build resilience in East Gainesville.
References
Anguelovski, I., Cole, H. V., O'Neill, E., Baró, F., Kotsila, P., Sekulova, F., del Pulgar, C. P., Shokry, G., Garcia-Lamarca, M., Arguelles, L., Connolly, J. T., Honey-Roses, J., Lopez-Gay, A., Fontan-Vela, M., Matheney, A., Oscilowicz, E., Binet, A., & Triguero-Mas, M. (2021). Gentrification pathways and their health impacts on historically marginalized residents in Europe and North America: Global qualitative evidence from 14 cities. Health & place, 72, 102698.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). The social-ecological model: A framework for prevention. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...ecologicalmodel.html
Hwang, J., & Ding, L. (2020). Unequal displacement: Gentrification, racial stratification, and residential destinations in Philadelphia. American Journal of Sociology, 126(2), 354-406.
Hwang, J., & Sampson, RJ. (2014). Divergent pathways of gentrification racial inequality and the social order of renewal in Chicago neighborhoods. American Sociological Review, 79(4), 726–751
Pennix, T. (2021, May 7). Gentrification in East Gainesville. CBS4 News. https://mycbs4.com/news/local/...-in-east-gainesville
Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. (2016). Trauma Informed Philanthropy: A Funder’s Resource Guide for Supporting Trauma-Informed Practice in the Delaware Valley. https://philanthropynetwork.or...raumaGUIDE_Final.pdf
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content /SMA14-4884/SMA14-4884.pdf
WellFlorida Council. (2020). Alachua County Community Health Needs Assessment. Retrieved from http://alachua.floridahealth.g...y-health-planning-and-statistics/data-and-reporting/_documents/cha-2020.pdf.
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