Supporting the Wellness of Street Intervention Workers
Supporting the Mental Health of Street Intervention Workers Heading link
Assistant Professor Kathryn Bocanegra has released an Executive Summary and launched a website with critical resources for street intervention workers and their experiences of trauma. The information is the result of her study Between a Bullet and Its Target, which examined occupational stressors experienced by street intervention workers and supervisors, and the forms of trauma they are exposed to. The study also elucidates how community-based organizations can better support the mental health and well-being of their street intervention workers.
“The majority of street intervention workers have suffered tremendously. They are so brave and noble in what they are doing, going back into their community and back into the streets, and trying to redefine the narrative around what they do and who they are. But they are doing it without guns and without a bullet-proof vest. I think the same amount of thought and effort that has been put into police mental health should be put into these people’s mental health. They are in very similar circumstances, with less protection, fewer resources, less staff. We need to do everything possible to help them be effective in their work.”
Dr. Kathryn Bocanegra
Principal Investigator on Between a Bullet and Its Target