A nonprofit that serves kids and families struggling with mental health and welfare opened a trauma recovery center in the Bronx.
Astor Services’ new center at 750 Tilden St. will provide much-needed services to help and heal survivors of violent crimes.
“Untreated trauma looks like increased suicide rates, looks like depression and over-function in mental health clinics, it looks like disruption of families,” said Jaida Richardson, program director at the trauma recovery center.
The services include crisis intervention, case management, therapy and legal assistance. They meet with participants in-person, at their homes or virtually. One ambassador of the trauma center says that the help and counseling she’s received has changed her life.
“I feel like our relationship has been a foundation and has been a pivotal point in my healing process and has really allowed me to sit and process and sit with myself,” said ambassador Amber Rodriguez.
The program is free of charge, but members have to be over 5 years old, live in the Bronx and be a survivor of a violent crime within the past three years or have suffered a loss due to homicide.