Document Type
Portfolio
Publication Date
Fall 2025
Abstract
Goal Statement: The goal of this prevention portfolio is to strengthen protective factors for adolescents in Richmond, Virginia, who have experienced violence or loss. The focus is on reducing emotional distress, strengthening resilience, and promoting healthy development among youth who have been affected by community trauma. Significant Findings: Youth in Richmond are disproportionately affected by poverty, violence, and exposure to loss, which contribute to high rates of depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. The City of Richmond Community Health Needs Assessment (2022) found that nearly 29% of youth live in poverty, while the Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2023) reported that 42% of high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless. Research shows that exposure to trauma during adolescence increases risks for mental health challenges, substance use, and academic decline (National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2020). However, prevention programs grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Resilience Theory, such as Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), have proven effective in helping youth process trauma and develop emotional coping skills (Jaycox et al., 2019). Strengthening community and school-based trauma-informed initiatives is essential for reducing long-term emotional and social harm among youth. Objectives/Strategies/Interventions/Next Steps:
1. The project will partner with Richmond Public Schools to implement the Cognitive
Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) as a trauma-informed prevention program in middle and high schools. Training will be provided for teachers, counselors, and administrators on identifying trauma responses and using supportive communication strategies with students.
2. Teachers, counselors, and administrators will receive training on how to identify signs of trauma and respond to students using supportive communication strategies.
3. The portfolio will collaborate with community-based organizations and faith groups to create safe spaces and peer mentoring programs for adolescents coping with loss.
4. Workshops for families will focus on helping caregivers build emotional strength, communicate more effectively, and understand how grief and trauma affect youth.
5. Advocacy efforts will focus on expanding funding and access to culturally responsive mental health services through partnerships with the Virginia Department of Health and local nonprofits.
6. Progress will be measured by tracking student participation, emotional growth, and overall engagement within Richmond schools.
