Many individuals living in Service Planning Area (SPA) 6, the service area for Bethel Los Angeles Community Development Corporation, experience trauma during their lifetimes. Although many people exposed to trauma demonstrate few or no lingering symptoms, those individuals who have experienced repeated, chronic, or multiple traumas are more likely to exhibit pronounced symptoms and consequences, including substance abuse, mental illness, and health problems. Subsequently, trauma can significantly affect how an individual engages in major life areas as well as treatment.
Spa 6 has some of the worst health statistics in Los Angeles County. It has a high percentage of adults diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes, and the highest percent of obese adults in the county. SPA-6 also has the highest Diabetes and Stroke death rates in Los Angeles County.
Spa 6 has some of the worst health statistics in Los Angeles County. It has a high percentage of adults diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes, and the highest percent of obese adults in the county. SPA-6 also has the highest Diabetes and Stroke death rates in Los Angeles County.
Youth Services:Youth ages 11-17, low to moderate-income/unhoused, Spa 6 resident.
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Adult Services:Adults 18+, low to moderate-income/unhoused, Spa 6 resident
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Bethel L.A. CDC’s behavioral health service providers and administrators use evidence-based and best
Bethel L.A. CDC’s behavioral health service providers and administrators use evidence-based and best practices to work more effectively with people who have been exposed to acute and chronic traumas and/or are at risk of developing traumatic stress reactions. Using key trauma-informed principles, Bethel L.A. CDC’s counseling programs address trauma-related prevention, intervention, and treatment issues and strategies in behavioral health services. The content used across behavioral health settings that service individuals, families, and communities—placing emphasis on the importance of coordinating as well as integrating services.
Programs & Services: “If you live in areas like South Central, Lynwood, or Compton your life expectancy is 6.6 years lower than if you lived in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Malibu.”
For instance, the number one cause of premature death (less than 75 years of age) in SPA 6 is homicide. From 2007-2011, SPA 6 had the highest number of deaths by homicide in the county at 892, compared to SPA 5, which in the same year span had the lowest number of homicides in the county at 44 (see Figure 5). Thus, it comes with no surprise that more than 97% of SPA 5 residents perceive their neighborhood to be safe, while only around 40% of SPA 6 residents share that belief (see Figure 6).
These conditions and perceptions have health consequences. It has been documented that living with ongoing stress can lead to high blood pressure which overtime damages the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys while also increasing the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and sudden death. Constant exposure to violence can take a toll on your mental health and is a risk factor for developing Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). Youth that are plagued with PTSD and suffer of depression, anxiety, and sleep issues. This carries into adulthood, which can have detrimental effects on quality of life.
A Google News search of South Los Angeles usually yields reports of shootings or other violent crimes. These reports, however, rarely talk about the root causes of violence and may leave their audience subconsciously believing that people in those communities are prone to violence and do not experience trauma. Narratives that say that people in violent neighborhoods are tough and can handle mental strain or even health strain. This can be equally damaging.
Factors such as poverty and unemployment are measurable conditions that can provide more insight into the roots of violence. SPA-6 has the lowest median household income at $36,400 and the second highest percentage of unemployed adults in the county! In comparison, the median household income in SPA-5 is $86,572 (see Figure 7). SPA 6 has the highest percent population with household incomes less than 100% federal poverty level at 33.6%. Living under poverty is associated with poor health such as an increased likelihood of having chronic illness and a lower life expectancy.
Furthermore, adults that experience economic hardship during childhood are more likely to report a greater number of negative childhood experiences. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente in 1995-97 examined 10 different types of childhood traumas experienced by study participants including abuse, neglect, and family/household challenges with long term follow-up of health outcomes. The ACE study found an association between high ACE scores and poor health for the rest of an individual’s life. For instance, an ACE score greater than 4 is associated with an increased likelihood of suffering of conditions such as chronic lung disease, depression, alcoholism, liver disease, and suicide. Basically, there is a link between negative childhood events and the development of chronic illness, mental health issues, or social problems*
Trauma-informed care is built on a holistic view that offers safety and compassion. It inspires hope, strength, relief, and enables people to make long-lasting change.
Bethel Los Angeles Community Development Corporation takes an asset-based, trauma-informed approach to addressing the issues that plague our communities in an effort to inspire hope, strength, relief, and enable people to make long-lasting change. Trauma-informed care is built on a holistic view that offers safety and compassion.
A “trauma-informed approach incorporates three key elements: (1) realizing the prevalence of trauma; (2) recognizing how trauma affects all individuals involved with the program, organization, or system, including its own workforce; and (3) responding by putting this knowledge into practice”(SAMHSA, 2012, p. 4).
Programs & Services: “If you live in areas like South Central, Lynwood, or Compton your life expectancy is 6.6 years lower than if you lived in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Malibu.”
For instance, the number one cause of premature death (less than 75 years of age) in SPA 6 is homicide. From 2007-2011, SPA 6 had the highest number of deaths by homicide in the county at 892, compared to SPA 5, which in the same year span had the lowest number of homicides in the county at 44 (see Figure 5). Thus, it comes with no surprise that more than 97% of SPA 5 residents perceive their neighborhood to be safe, while only around 40% of SPA 6 residents share that belief (see Figure 6).
These conditions and perceptions have health consequences. It has been documented that living with ongoing stress can lead to high blood pressure which overtime damages the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys while also increasing the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and sudden death. Constant exposure to violence can take a toll on your mental health and is a risk factor for developing Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). Youth that are plagued with PTSD and suffer of depression, anxiety, and sleep issues. This carries into adulthood, which can have detrimental effects on quality of life.
A Google News search of South Los Angeles usually yields reports of shootings or other violent crimes. These reports, however, rarely talk about the root causes of violence and may leave their audience subconsciously believing that people in those communities are prone to violence and do not experience trauma. Narratives that say that people in violent neighborhoods are tough and can handle mental strain or even health strain. This can be equally damaging.
Factors such as poverty and unemployment are measurable conditions that can provide more insight into the roots of violence. SPA-6 has the lowest median household income at $36,400 and the second highest percentage of unemployed adults in the county! In comparison, the median household income in SPA-5 is $86,572 (see Figure 7). SPA 6 has the highest percent population with household incomes less than 100% federal poverty level at 33.6%. Living under poverty is associated with poor health such as an increased likelihood of having chronic illness and a lower life expectancy.
Furthermore, adults that experience economic hardship during childhood are more likely to report a greater number of negative childhood experiences. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente in 1995-97 examined 10 different types of childhood traumas experienced by study participants including abuse, neglect, and family/household challenges with long term follow-up of health outcomes. The ACE study found an association between high ACE scores and poor health for the rest of an individual’s life. For instance, an ACE score greater than 4 is associated with an increased likelihood of suffering of conditions such as chronic lung disease, depression, alcoholism, liver disease, and suicide. Basically, there is a link between negative childhood events and the development of chronic illness, mental health issues, or social problems*
Trauma-informed care is built on a holistic view that offers safety and compassion. It inspires hope, strength, relief, and enables people to make long-lasting change.
Bethel Los Angeles Community Development Corporation takes an asset-based, trauma-informed approach to addressing the issues that plague our communities in an effort to inspire hope, strength, relief, and enable people to make long-lasting change. Trauma-informed care is built on a holistic view that offers safety and compassion.
A “trauma-informed approach incorporates three key elements: (1) realizing the prevalence of trauma; (2) recognizing how trauma affects all individuals involved with the program, organization, or system, including its own workforce; and (3) responding by putting this knowledge into practice”(SAMHSA, 2012, p. 4).
Bethel’s programs and services focus on the center of the community, its residents:
Youth Services: youth ages 11-17, low to moderate income/unhoused, Spa 6 resident
Education
Counseling
Adults : adults 18+, low to moderate income,/unhoused, Spa 6 resident
Individual
Group
Youth Services: youth ages 11-17, low to moderate income/unhoused, Spa 6 resident
Education
- Individual Education Plan (IEP)
- Learning Disabilities
Counseling
- Coping Skills
- Psychological (Social, Family, Health)
Adults : adults 18+, low to moderate income,/unhoused, Spa 6 resident
Individual
- Female (Anger, Trauma, Mental/Physical Health, Social Justice)
- Male
Group
- Couples
- Parenting
- Family (Unemployment, Food Insecurity, Pandemic, Trauma, Mental/Physical Health)
- Unhoused
- Gang
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