TRUSTING IN THE HARD WORK WHEN IT MATTERS.

MOST.

AND NOW, AS WE'VE JUST HEARD, MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE IN A SURVIVOR'S RECOVERY.

BUT NAVIGATING THAT JOURNEY ISN'T THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

FINDING THE RIGHT CARE CAN BE DIFFICULT AND OFTEN INVOLVES UNPACKING COMPLEX TRAUMA.

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY GETTING THE RIGHT CARE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED IS KEY.

NOT ONLY FOR HEALING, BUT ALSO FOR STOPPING FUTURE VIOLENCE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE AFTER A LITTLE CARDIO DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION AT THE BRIGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.

AND I WOULD NOT IS CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL SAID THAT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START WITH WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES WITH TRAUMATIC INCIDENTS.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CENTER'S APPROACH WHEN A SURVIVOR ENTERS THE PROGRAM AT CENTRAL TONIGHT.

>> YEAH, I THINK AGAIN FOR HAVING ME FOR SOME REASON THAT WE PROVIDE A LONG-TERM APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE, COUPLED WITH INDIVIDUAL GROUP AND CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AS WELL.

SO ISN'T THIS A THAT IT GETS US UP READING HIGH QUALITY CARE THAT INTEGRATES A LOT, OF COURSE, BECAUSE BECAUSE OF HIGH, THE HIGH, A HIGH QUALITY CARE AS WELL PRACTICES IS.

THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES WHEN SURVIVOR DOES COME IN.

>> AND IS NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT HOW WOULD THINK ABOUT THEIR >> USUALLY ME FOLKS AT SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT A BUS THAT WAS INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FOLKS HAVE SUPPORTED THEM.

SO THE VICTIM ADVOCATES, THE CHURCH.

>> ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS READ GATHERED OUR SERVICES AND OUR RESOURCES IN AS PART OF OUR APPROACH THE SUN AS AS NOT ONLY ONE-STOP-SHOP RATE.

BUT IT'S ALSO APPROACH TAKING A LOT OF CULTURE COMMUNITY AND THAT PRESSURE AS WELL.

>> AND THAT NEW YORK ARE SOME PEOPLE STILL HESITANT TO FIND MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

>> WELL, WE'VE SEEN IN OUR RESEARCH IS ACTUALLY THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES, RIGHT?

THERE MAY BE SOME HESITANCY, BUT THE BIGGEST BEARS ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS CARE, RIGHT?

WE KNOW THERE'S WEIGHT THIS.

OUR RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES, NEIGHBORHOOD COMPARED TO A FLUID NEIGHBORHOODS.

COUNTRY'S OF COLOR HAVE A AVERAGE OF 2.1 THERAPIST PER RESIDENTS COMPARED TO 4.5 THEIR PEERS FOR ONE DOESN'T MEAN WHETHER IT'S MORE FLUENT NEIGHBORHOOD YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE WAY LISSA SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT HAS A SPECIFIC IS ONE OF THE THINGS OFTEN TIMES SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE ENCOUNTER SPECIALLY DESIGNED THAT WAY US.

>> SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE LIKE, YEAH, SOMEBODY FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A 15 MONTH LATER.

THAT'S A LONG TIME AND WE OFTEN GET A CHANCE I CAN GET.

CAN I JUMP AWAY THIS?

IT'S REALLY BETTER BASELINE.

A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS IDENTIFY WITH COMPLEX TRAUMA, WHICH IS 90% OF POPULATION.

THE PROGRAM THERE.

I'M SO USED TO SEEING AROUND 40 PEOPLE OR A REGULAR BASIS AND THAT YEARLY.

AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE WITNESSES AROUND CLOSE TO 500 PEOPLE AT THIS POINT.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE FOR THAT IN THE YEAR?

YEAH.

I KNOW IT'S A YEAR FOR A FOUR-YEAR.

SO TRAUMA IS NOT JUST A ONE-TIME MOMENT.

IT'S A COMPLEX HISTORY NOT ONLY FROM CHILDHOOD.

THE HILLS OF FROM YOUR DOG OFTENTIMES WILL BE FINE.

IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY HOMICIDE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CENTER FOR CHILD EXPERIENCES NOT THE FIRST TRAUMA.

SO WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT A LONG-TERM APPROACH THAT TAKES A YEAR.

IT TAKES.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN A LOVED ONE THAT IS RIGHT?

YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> THEY KNOW AS WE KNOW, WE CAN GO TO SOME MENTAL CLINICS IN YOU.

THE THERAPIST CAN ONLY HAVE TENNESSEE, ONE PERSON A MONTH NOW.

>> AND SO ARE OUR PUSH DIFFERENT APPROACHES AROUND RELEASE ENTERING THE FAMILY, RELEASE INDIVIDUAL AND OFFERING MULTIPLE SESSIONS.

SO ARE OFFERING OKAY.

SO THAT'S A LOWER COMPARED TO WHAT THE SITUATION STANDARD, WHICH IS ALSO A COMMUNITY FOR COMMUNITY WANTS COMMUNITY WANTS CONSISTENT, LONG-TERM FORMS OF CARE, WHICH MEANS LONGER WAIT TIMES AND LONGER AND THE ABILITY ACTUALLY GO TO THE UNDERLYING ROOTS OF TRAUMA AS WELL.

>> AND TALKING ABOUT RESEARCH.

YOU'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THE RESPONSE.

PEOPLE WANT DURING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> YES, WHAT WE KNOW THAT THE AFTER CARE IS VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGAGING A CRISIS WORKER ARE PROBABLY AT THAT MOMENT.

FINALLY READY TO TALK AND SO AS WE JUST HEARD BEING ABLE TO GET SOMETHING CONNECTED SERVICES, THE FOLLOW-UP CARE WITH A SERIOUS SUPER CRITICAL.

NOW WHEN THINGS THAT SENTENCE AND THAT IS DOING IS PROVIDING ON SPACES FOR HEALING, WHICH IS CRITICAL.

IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO OPERATE IN A VACUUM.

NOT OPERATE SWEAR THE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS.

WE'RE CLOSE RIGHT TO BACK OF THE ART CENTER'S WAS ONE OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT COULD HAVE PROVIDED A FOLLOW-UP CARE.

AND AS A RESULT, RIGHT, WE'RE OPERATING IN THIS MENTAL HEALTH DESERT WHERE A AND I KNOW HAS TO CARRY THE LOAD IS THAT THAT IN 40 I WAS LEFT WITH THE PUBLIC WITH A SENATOR CLOSE >> AND AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING MORE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES BEHIND BRING THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

>> SO OUR OUR CAMPAIGN TREATMENT IS FOCUSED ON CREATING A SYSTEM OF CARE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT IS OPERATED BY THE CITY ITSELF, RIGHT?

WE NEED TO BUILD A LASTING INFRASTRUCTURE.

ONE THAT DOESN'T ONLY RELY ON OUR PROFITS, BUT INSTEAD CAN HAVE THE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, WHICH CAN CREATE SPACES FOR HEALING FOR ONGOING SUPPORT, AS WELL AS BEING A HOME BASE FOR CRISIS RESPONSE WORKERS TO GET INTO THE COMMUNITY TO GAUGE PROACTIVELY TO IDENTIFY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY BECAUSE THEY WERE HARASSED AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST DEALING WITH A BAD.

SITUATION, RIGHT.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE CARE THAT IN REAL TIME RIGHT BEFORE CRISES ESCALATE.

SO FOR US CRUDE INTO THE CRISIS RESPONSE, COMMUNITY CARE CORE THAT CAN BE BASED PUBLIC IS AN OBLIGATION OF THE CITY CAN FULFILL THIS ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT WHAT'S WHAT TRY TO DO THIS WORK WITH YOUR PASSION BEHIND THIS WORK?

>> AND CAN BE VERY HEAVY WORK.

>> YEAH, I THINK FOR FOR ME SPECIFICALLY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR 12 YEARS, SPECIFICALLY READY TO QUIT FOR HOMICIDE VICTIMS THEIR FAMILIES.

I THINK WHAT GETS AND THAT IS THEIR STORIES AND THEIR COMMITMENT ALSO CHANGE SYSTEM IS WHEN YOU ACTS SURVIVORS SENATOR VOICE THE SAVE HUNDREDS OF WHAT THEY WOULD PUSH SYSTEMIC CHANGE THAT.

BUT ALSO HOW THEY WOULD WANT TO BE SUPPORTED AS WELL.

WHAT I WILL GET YOU STARTED TO DO THIS WORK.

IT WAS THE DEATH OF A LOVED WAS MY BROTHER AND ALSO HAVE THE HOWARD FAMILY NAVIGATED 34 NOW I WAS 15 AT THAT POINT TO THE STILL ASPECT OF COMMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE AN ACT IN A SIMILAR LOST HER BROTHER YEAH.

AND SO YES, THAT'S THAT'S A PIECE OF MY FAMILY'S HISTORY.

BUT THIS WHOLE TRAUMA AND THIS WHOLE GRIEF WORKS GETS PERSONAL.

YOU UNDERSTAND IT SAYS SOME FAMILIES GO THROUGH.

IT'S A PERSONAL, BUT ALSO IT'S NOT A IN A PUSH UNPACKS MY OWN IT'S ENTERING OTHER FOLKS AS PAIN BECAUSE MY PAIN IS DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.

IT'S ABOUT SENDING COMMUNITY VOICES CENTERING SURVIVORS AND THAT BEINGS BEFORE SOLUTIONS ACTS OF EVERYDAY REALLY ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S MORE LONG-TERM, SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY CENTER'S A VOICE PERSON AND THAT IS ABOUT THAT.

WE WISH YOU COULD BE MORE PREVENTATIVE IN NATURE.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVE RESPOND TO COMMUNITIES IN AS A RESULT SUMMIT.

ALASKA'S MENTIONING THAT WE NEED A MORE DIVERSE SET OF FUNDING.

ENOUGH PROFIT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT WITHOUT MORE SENATE APPROACH TO OUR HEALTH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND AGAIN, EVERYONE, SURE NEW SO DIFFERENT THAT IN QUESTION FOR YOU WOULD DRIVE DO THIS WORK.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WE SEE SOME WITHIN THE WE ENVISION A BETTER SYSTEM, A BETTER SOCIETY IN WHICH PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT IN A PREVENTIVE WAY WITHOUT ALLOWING THINGS TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE CRASHES OCCUR OR PEOPLE OR INSTITUTIONAL AS A RESULT OF WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WILL GET YOU STARTED TO DOING THIS SO I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WHEN THOSE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAS NO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, FOUND OUT THAT THE PUBLIC WITH U.S.

SENATORS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO CLOSED, RIGHT?

SO, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP, I REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM IT TO HEALTHCARE IN A WAY THAT IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO ME, I WOULD BENEFIT MYSELF OR MY FAMILY, BUT IT WASN'T THERE.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I BECAME A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL MYSELF.

THAT REALLY IS WHILE THIS IS A BIG NEED AND WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE AND THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COULD PROVIDE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, JUST LIKE FUN POLICE, WE CAN COMMITTEE COMMISSION TALKING ABOUT THE CITY.

DOES A CITY HAVE A ROLE IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

ABSOLUTELY.

AS DIRTY AS THERE WAS ONCE A TIME WHERE THERE'S 19 PUBLIC MENTAL CENTER'S.

THERE WAS ONCE A TIME IN WHICH COMMUNITIES MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS WHERE A HUB FOR FOR MANY COMMUNITIES THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO MANY WOULD SAY WE HAVE NOW.

WELL, CURRENTLY HAVE 5, 5 YEAH.

YOU'RE GOING TO SOMETHING I'M A INTERSECTS WITH WITH OUR COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY WE OFTEN ARE.

>> ADDRESSING IT INSURANCE TAXES.

SO MARTHA, NOW WORKING WITH FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, SO HAVE THE SAME ACCESS THAT YOU WOULD AS A SIMILARLY, IF YOU ARE IN A MORE APT COME IN AND HAVE IT A BILL COSBY PLAN RIGHT?

IT WOULD HAVE GETTING IN THERE.

AND SO SO SO HARD.

HE'S REALLY UNDERSTANDING.

YEAH.

LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S SOME CLINICS THAT TAKE PPO OR TAKE HMO MEDICAID.

>> SO THAT A PERSON JUST IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE.

WHERE CAN I SEE A SPECIFIC PERSON IS NOT ALWAYS A PARADE, WITCH.

TYPICALLY THEY WOULD BE THE ONES THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE OR HAS IT.

IN TERMS ACTUALLY IT'S YOUTH HAVE MEDICAID, WHICH AND I SAY IT'S A PERFECT SYSTEM, BUT IT'S INSURANCE ACCESS POINT.

WE'RE OFTEN TACKLING FOLKS THAT TYPICALLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE BE SEEN,