Trauma Treatment in Crime Victims and Trauma Training for First Responders

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center (SFRC&TTC) will use the grant funds to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to assisting survivors of crime in getting health care, accessing community resources, and navigating the legal process while they are in crisis in northern New Mexico. The SFRC&TTC provides any person who has experienced a potentially traumatic event, with free, evidence based clinical assessment and treatment for trauma, according to their own needs, in order to promote resiliency for individual, their families, and the community they reside in. The SFRC&TTC also works closely with law enforcement to train officers to recognize the symptoms of trauma in the victims of crime they encounter as well as to recognize symptoms of trauma in themselves. Because of the nature of their jobs and their work experience, many law enforcement officers are also military veterans who may experience symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. The SFRC&TTC is uniquely qualified to provide services and training to all types of first responders because of their licensed professional therapeutic team model, volunteer staffing model, and their outreach and training methods to local law enforcement and active military regarding the effects of trauma on victims and first responders.

The objectives for this project are to:
1) provide all individuals presenting with trauma symptoms cognitive behavioral treatment within 1 to 15 sessions to enable the individual to resume healthy functioning and resume daily activities with at least one new technique or skill to increase or maintain their resiliency; 2) increase community capacity to understand and refer victims to trauma treatment services; and 3) provide first responder trauma training to New Mexico law enforcement, emergency agencies, and active military service members.

NCA/NCF