UB Supports Ongoing Efforts to Make Baltimore a Trauma-Informed Community
February 11, 2020
Contact: Office of Government and Public Affairs
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore and its School of Criminal Justice are supporting various efforts to ensure that Baltimore is completely capable of providing an appropriate, lasting response to those who are dealing with trauma in their lives—from those who are victims of crimes, to the law-enforcement professionals who work against crime and violence every day.
Baltimore Mayor Jack Young recently signed the Elijah Cummings Healing City Act, which intends to address childhood trauma caused by violence, and stop that cycle from continuing into the next generation of traumatized young people. Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen, who introduced the bill, said the city must put its efforts into providing services for those who are witnesses to violence in order to keep this cycle from repeating. In part, the legislation creates a citywide task force to address childhood trauma and requires training at every city agency to provide appropriate responses to this unmet need.
UB's School of Criminal Justice, led by Prof. Debra L. Stanley, is involved in these efforts.
"In the last several years, we have provided trauma training to the entire leadership and all detectives within the Baltimore Police Department. We offer regional trainings throughout the state, with numerous opportunities provided in Baltimore to the victim service community, criminal justice professionals, clinicians, and schools," Prof. Stanley said. "Our commitment to transform the city into a trauma-responsive city is evidenced in our educational offerings in these areas, including a minor in victim studies, a graduate victimology specialization, a trauma-informed certificate, the foundational and regional trainings, and more.
"We have a significant number of victimologists and victim studies experts on faculty. The Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland stands out as an exemplary model for professionalizing the field and ensuring that all crime victims receive quality support and services."
On Friday, Feb. 21, Councilman Cohen will serve as keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony for trainees of the Roper Academy, for which Prof. Stanley serves as academic director. RVAAM provides a comprehensive curriculum and a state certification program for both basic and advanced advocacy training and for crime victim service providers and other ancillary service providers in Maryland, and ensures that national, state and local resources are known to those who do this work. The ceremony will take place beginning at 1 p.m. at Bon Secours Conference Center Chapel, 1525 Marriottsville Rd. in Marriottsville, Md.
The School of Criminal Justice also supports the law enforcement community through its trauma-informed certificate program, a post-baccalaureate training regime available to undergraduates who want to have the skills necessary to address the consequences of trauma.
Learn more about Prof. Stanley and the School of Criminal Justice.
Learn more about the Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the UB School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.