Violence, Injury, and Trauma Action Team
The Violence, Injury, and Trauma Action Team of the Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership is dedicated to addressing community violence, domestic violence, unintentional and intentional injuries, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the trauma associated with these factors which can affect a person’s health and well-being.
Get involved – New members are always welcome to join the Violence, Injury, and Trauma action team! To be notified of upcoming events and meetings, please sign up for membership in the Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership and indicate “Violence, Injury, and Trauma” as your interest!
Example Objectives and Indicators
While numerous violence, injury, and trauma issues are being addressed in the Healthy St. Mary’s 2026 Plan, three objectives with associated indicators are presented here:
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as experiencing abuse, neglect and witnessing household dysfunction, violence, and substance use can lead to long-term effects such as the adult onset of chronic diseases, depression and other mental illness, violence and being a victim of violence, as well as financial and social problems (Figure 1). Many of the team’s evidence-based strategies address preventing ACEs from happening in the first place as well as strategies to mitigate the long-term health effects of ACEs.
- In Maryland, suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens ages 15–19. Reducing the percentage of high school students who seriously considered attempting suicide and middle school students who ever seriously thought about killing themselves of several objectives addressing the needs of adolescents in St. Mary’s County (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Percentage of Adults Reporting 3 or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Maryland BRFSS
Figure 2. Percentage of Students Who Ever Seriously Thought About Killing Themselves (Middle School) and Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide During the Past 12 Months (High School)
#SafeSummerSOMD Social Media Campaign
The Violence, Injury, and Trauma (VIT) Action Team launched a summer safety campaign that focuses on all aspects of a safer, healthier summer. The Safe Summer Southern Maryland (#SafeSummerSOMD) Social Media Toolkit offers materials and graphics that can be used on social media to inform your community about the campaign. Our social media toolkit is available to community partners with hyperlinks using this Canva link. Download the toolkit and learn more about the summer safety campaign at healthystmarys.com/safesummersomd/.
HSMP ACEs Discussion Panel
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024 , the VIT Action Team held a panel to discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences or (ACEs). The Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership, certified health professionals, and community members hosted a discussion to learn more about traumatic experiences that occur during childhood, and the long-term impact they have on mental, emotional, and physical health.
Stay tuned for upcoming Violence, Injury, and Trauma discussion panels and events being planned at our VIT Action Team meetings on the fourth Thursday of the month. Meetings are open to the community!
Upcoming for October 2024:
3rd Annual “Why Don’t They Just Leave?” domestic violence prevention and survivors panel in partnership with the Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy. Stay tuned for updates!
