Challenges and Disparities for Disadvantaged and Minority Populations

Urban Youth Trauma Center | Race and Social Justice

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Challenges and Disparities for Disadvantaged and Minority Populations

The causes of trauma and violence are complex. There is usually not a simple, unique explanation. Solutions should consider why violence happens. The image below applies a socioecological model to outline the factors that contribute to violence at different levels (individual, relationship, community, and societal), which can make individuals more likely to be victims or perpetrators of violence, trauma, and oppression.

UYTC Race and Social Justice - Factors Contributed to Community Violence

 

From these factors we can apply best practices for violence prevention and trauma intervention, which can aid in fostering resiliency and recovery. These best practices are outlined in the following tables along with challenges and disparities for minority populations and the different ways that individuals can help to address these disparities.

 

Best Practice 1: Identifying, helping, and supporting survivors of trauma

Challenges and Disparities for Minority Children, Youth, and Families Ways to Help and Support Minority Children, Youth, and Families
UYTC Race and Social Justice - Best Practice 1
  • Greater incidence of trauma and violence
  • Over-representation in child welfare and juvenile justice
  • Labeling signs and symptoms of traumatic stress as problem behavior
  • Zero-Tolerance policies in schools
  • Limited access to services within the community
  • Know how to recognize when someone is affected by trauma.
  • Focus on where the problem behavior is stemming from and what kind of services you can provide to support youth.
  • Become informed about community resources.
  • Utilize self-care for sustainable career in trauma/violence work.
  • Anticipate interactions that might be triggering to community members.
  • Knowing what questions to ask
  • Connect community members with accessible trauma specific supportive services when applicable.
 

Best Practice 2: Developing safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between children and their parents, caregivers, and caring adults

Challenges and Disparities for Minority Children, Youth, and Families Ways to Help and Support Minority Children, Youth, and Families
  • As a result of the challenges that come with poverty, parents tend to be less involved, which has a negative impact on youth.
  • When there are higher rates of community violence, there tends to also be more distrust among neighbors, which results in less support available for youth. UYTC Race and Social Justice - Best Practice 2
  • The presence of school violence and bullying can limit opportunities for developing interpersonal relationships and can increase delinquency.
  • Work with youth and their caregivers to improve their relationship, connect them to services such as parenting classes and support groups.
  • Help youth connect with mentors or other supportive adults or become a mentor.
  • Develop relationships with people in the community.
  • Be a resource to concerned community members.
  • Share information about how trauma can affect relationships.
  • Create coalitions among youth-serving organizations, schools and law enforcement to facilitate the transition of youth affected by trauma to a stable environment.
 

Best Practice 3: Developing life skills in children and adolescents

Challenges and Disparities for Minority Children, Youth, and Families Ways to Help and Support Minority Children, Youth, and Families
  • Youth impacted by poverty have lower access to critical resources, which can ultimately get in the way of acquiring needed skills.
  • Experiencing multiple adversities (trauma exposure, stress, poor quality housing, academic challenges, poverty) can undermine the development of life skills.
  • Programs that encourage youth to learn and practice skills are often underfunded or absent.
  • When services do not meet needs or are not culturally sensitive, it can lead to more dropouts among ethnic minority youth (such as lack of bilingual services).
  • Lack of evidence based or trauma-informed prevention programs.
  • UYTC Race and Social Justice - Best Practice 3 Offering or connecting youth to programs that support the development of like skills (sports, arts, music, leadership, academic enrichment, and vocational assistance).
  • Sharing information or talking about the importance of developing life skills among youth.
  • Become informed about available resources for life skill development in the community.
 

Best Practice 4: Promoting a safe environment in the community

Challenges and Disparities for Minority Children, Youth, and Families Ways to Help and Support Minority Children, Youth, and Families
  • Child maltreatment can be more common with increased adversity created by poverty, unemployment, and single-headed households. UYTC Race and Social Justice - Best Practice 4
  • These communities are often impacted by gang activities and gang-related violence.
  • There is often an absence or inadequacy of social services and supportive programming, including after-school and summer programs for youth.
  • Participate in efforts to assist youth and families find places they feel safe
  • Partner with youth and caregivers to brainstorm strategies for staying out of harm’s way
  • Work to create safe spaces for youth and families
  • Avoid retraumatization by creating non-judgmental, welcoming, safe spaces that recognize that youth exhibiting behavioral and emotional challenges can be related to trauma exposure.
  • Encourage and educate others on the use of trauma-informed strategies that prevent the escalation of violence.
  • Organize or participate in safe passage programs or peace rallies in your community.
 

Best Practice 5: Changing rules and expectations in society (cultural norms) that support violence

Challenges and Disparities for Minority Children, Youth, and Families Ways to Help and Support Minority Children, Youth, and Families
  • Ethnic minority families are more likely to experience discrimination and prejudice.
  • Prejudice and stereotyping can cause frustrations that can contribute to violent or aggressive behavior. UYTC Race and Social Justice - Best Practice 5
  • Reporting violence or criminal behavior can be unacceptable in some communities, which leaves the problem unaddressed.
  • When there is a breakdown of social relations and values, such as equality and fairness, this can undermine trust in institutions and lead residents to endorse violence as an acceptable way of resolving conflict.
  • Build networks that promote trust and foster a sense of community and connectedness among neighbors.
  • Be an example and stress the importance of mutual respect and encourage the use of conflict resolution skills that do not lead to aggression or violence.
  • Address attitudes towards weapons, gangs, community violence, aggressive and violent behaviors.
  • Increase youth access to opportunities where they can be exposed to positive role models that emphasize mutual respect and the use of good problem-solving skills.

Click here to learn more information about the Best Practices for Violence Prevention and Trauma Intervention, including what they are, why they are important, and examples for how to use each strategy.

Click UYTC Race and Social Justice Guide to download a printable copy of the UYTC Race and Social Justice Guide, which includes recommendations and resources that can be used to support providers and families around issues involving racism, inequity, and social injustice.