CFAR is proud to expand our Together Through Trauma (TTT) programming into several rec centers in North and West Philadelphia. TTT provides evidence-based trauma counseling, as well as trauma education through workshops on the impacts of trauma and how to cope after exposure to traumatic events. CFAR is seeking to help children, adults, teens, and families who have been impacted by gun and street violence in Philadelphia through TTT at the rec centers. Services and programming includes:
-Community workshops for children, adults, teens and families in each of the six identified recreation centers. Topics can be chosen by Recreation leadership from a menu of workshops including understanding trauma, how trauma impacts families and relationships, how to deal with the loss of a loved one due to gun violence, managing anxiety after a traumatic event, conflict resolution, etc. The goal is to provide trauma education as well as create a safe environment for community members to support one another.
-Therapists that provide evidenced based trauma services to those directly impacted by gun violence in person or through telehealth, making appropriate referrals as needed. Therapists hope to provide four open access hours at each Recreation Center per week.
-Staff workshops for recreation staff and/or community partner staff located within the neighborhoods we are located, once a month. Trainings will focus on education around secondary traumatic stress, providing support to staff members working in these vulnerable communities to help reduce burnout.
-Emotional Education Workshops at 12 PPR summer camps over 2 summers

TTT is being offered at the rec centers below, which were chosen based on need for this type of programming and services:
-Feltonville Rec Center, 221 E Wyoming Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19120
-Mallery-Rumph Rec Center, 100-70 East Johnson Street, 19144
-Tustin Rec Center, 5901-29 W. Columbia Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19151
-C.B. Moore Rec Center, 2551 N 22nd St., Philadelphia, PA, 19132
-Mander Playground, 2140 N. 33rd St., Philadelphia, PA, 19121
-8th and Diamond Playground, 800 Diamond St., Philadelphia, PA, 19122

CFAR has expertise in understanding how trauma impacts individuals and communities. CFAR teaches that talking about your trauma, and understanding how trauma impacts you, are the first steps in regaining control and minimizing symptoms of post-traumatic stress. The more individuals talk about their trauma, the more likely it is that they will help break the cycle of intergeneration trauma. CFAR community workshops/support groups will cover topics such as understanding trauma, parenting through trauma, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, managing anxiety after a traumatic event, grief/loss groups, coping with the loss of a loved one due to gun violence, etc. The goal is to provide education to help build skills to reduce the chances of developing symptoms of PTSD and encouraging community members to have healthy communication and shared experiences in which they can utilize one another as a support. CFAR strives to create a community of healing instead of a community of silence in which people are alone in their pain. CFAR will also offer free evidenced based trauma services to those directly impacted by gun violence to help reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The goal of the mental health services is not only to reduce symptoms of PTSD but to help families feel open to talk about their trauma in healthy ways, sharing their experience and feelings with family members to help break that cycle of intergeneration trauma. In today’s world, our community is too desensitized to violence because it feels normal. It is happening around us every day. These sessions help children, teens, adults and families cope with trauma in a health way to help prevent retaliation and desensitization to gun violence trauma.