Cleveland City Council OKs Trauma Counselors In Rec Centers

Cleveland City Council approved Mayor Frank Jackson’s plan to train recreation center staff to recognize trauma in young people.

Council on Monday night unanimously passed a $1 million, one-year contract with FrontLine Service, a mental healthcare nonprofit.

FrontLine will train rec center employees on how trauma affects child development. The plan also includes hiring social workers to connect children and their families with services.

Rosemary Creeden, the associate director for trauma services at FrontLine, told council last month that workers would try to mediate resolutions with children who have been kicked out of the rec centers.  

According to a city presentation to council, Cleveland will assign 11 social workers to its 22 recreation centers.

“Trauma Coaches will administer a brief and validated trauma screening tool with the identified children and youth to determine if additional intervention may be needed,” one slide in the presentation read.

The city plans to set up an advisory committee to review the program throughout the year.