The Effects of Violence on Kids

Hour 2

It’s no surprise that soldiers fighting in war zones develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from the fighting and the bloodshed. But far more children suffer from PTSD from the violence they witness or experience at home or in their neighborhoods.  In Philadelphia there are thousands of shootings each year, many of them homicides, and countless cases of child abuse and neglect.  This hour, we look at how children are affected by violence in their lives and hear about some local anti-violence programs helping kids and youth cope.  We also talk to a researcher about ways to mitigate the effects of trauma on children.  Our guests are MARIA KEFALAS, Director of the Richard Johnson Center for Anti-Violence at Saint Joseph’s University and Founder of Philadelphia Youth Solutions Project, EDWIN DESAMOUR, the Executive Director of MIMIC (Men in Motion in Community), a youth mentoring program in North Philadelphia, and STEVEN BERKOWITZ, Director of the Penn Center for Youth and Family Trauma Response and Recovery.

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[audio: 062711_110630.mp3]