MetroHealth Receives $600K to Support Survivors of Trauma
The MetroHealth System’s nationally recognized Trauma Recovery Center has received $600,218 as part of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s latest allocation of grants to organizations that support victims of gun violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and other trauma.
“The lingering effects of trauma can grow in isolation, and this funding ensures that survivors continue to have access to dedicated professionals and services on their journey of healing,” said Megen Simpson, Manager, Trauma Recovery Center. “The continued support of our work is a reflection of our team’s commitment to building a more resilient community.”
The Trauma Recovery Center offers victims of trauma care coordination, coaching, peer support, mentorship programs, financial assistance and other resources.
The center’s services continued uninterrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the need for the center’s services only grew over the last year given the steady increase in domestic violence, child abuse and other crimes.
In 2020, the Trauma Recovery Center made 4,599 direct contacts with survivors – a 17% increase over the previous year. In all, the team served 2,127 unique clients in 2020 – 60% of whom were victims of physical assault or gun violence.
“Violence increased across the spectrum over the course of the pandemic, and the need for compassionate individuals to hear survivors and offer encouragement, advocacy and support has never been greater,” Simpson said. “Our team at MetroHealth understands that true healing depends on so much more than expert medical care.”
The 2021-2022 award was made possible through grants from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) fund – the same fund that provided start-up funding for the Trauma Recovery Center in 2017. VOCA funds are allocated by the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
The Trauma Recovery Center is a service of the Center for Health Resilience through MetroHealth’s Institute for H.O.P.E.™. The Institute for H.O.P.E.™ was created to identify, address and eliminate barriers to care and to tackle the root causes of health disparities in our community.
Founded in 1837, MetroHealth is leading the way to a healthier you and a healthier community through service, teaching, discovery, and teamwork. Cuyahoga County’s public, safety-net hospital system, MetroHealth meets people where they are, providing care through five hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers. Each day, our nearly 9,000 employees focus on providing our community with equitable healthcare — through patient-focused research, access to care, and support services — that seeks to eradicate health disparities rooted in systematic barriers. For more information, visit metrohealth.org.
