This trauma-informed program addresses mental health and increases self-defense capacity among women experiencing homelessness (WEH) in Alachua County, Florida. Homelessness and mental health are significant public health issues within the United States. These issues are further complicated by adverse childhood experiences, which have been linked to poorer health outcomes and risk for homelessness in adulthood. The intersection of homelessness and mental health among women is important to address because women report significant negative mental and physical health outcomes compared to men. In addition, the psychological impact on women is greater than in men, especially due to sexual abuse and domestic violence. To address these needs, this program aims to decrease negative mental health outcomes among WEH through group-based activity and therapy, and increase self-efficacy and empowerment through self-defense training, education, and situational practice.
This program will use principles from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) guide employing principles such as safety, peer support, collaboration and empowerment (SAMHSA’s Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiative, 2014).
A public health framework will be utilized since this program recognizes the importance of diverse background and representation in public health intervention, and health as multifactorial and multidimensional instead of solely defining health as the absence of disease (Feuer-Edwards et al., 2016). In addition, it utilizes a multidisciplinary approach through the collaboration of health professionals, educational experts, and community workers to create a person-centered, trauma – informed environment of collaboration and trust.
This intervention will address primarily the individual level using the CDCs social ecological model (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Since the main goal of the project is to improve mental health among WEH, this program aims to target this level by increasing aspects of health such as mental health, self-efficacy, and general awareness.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, January 18). The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Prevention |Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...ecologicalmodel.html
Feuer-Edwards, A., O’Brien, C., & O’Connor, S. (2016). Trauma-Informed Philanthropy.
SAMHSA’s Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiative. (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach.
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