The trauma-informed intervention I am implementing is aimed at combating Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Citrus County, Florida. Throughout this intervention, we address the need in rural America for increased awareness of, access to, and utilization of mental health services, specifically among young adults aged 16-25 who have been inequitably effected by ACEs (FLHealthCHARTS, 2022b). By implementing a multi-level approach grounded in the Social Ecological Model (SEM) and SAMHSA’s Trauma-Informed Principles, the intervention aims to decrease barriers to mental health services while promoting utilization of these wellness services (McLeroy at al., 1988; SAMHSA, 2020). I plan to implement this intervention on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community levels of the SEM model in order to ensure engagement and promote change on different levels of influence. Similarly, I utilize every trauma-informed principle described by SAMHSA in order to ensure that the participants feel safe and welcome in order to deliver the best and most effective care possible. The activities I implement throughout the intervention are forms of primary and tertiary prevention; I aim to stop both the incidence of future ACEs in the county while mitigating the current effects of ACEs on members of the county. By creating and fostering a supportive environment through community engagement and targeted educational activities, such as lectures and support groups, the intervention aims to not only empower residents of Citrus County to seek help and reduce stigma, but also cultivate a culture of mental wellness and a safe space for those who need it to seek treatment.
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