Written by: Barbara Ellis

I believe we are all aware that we don’t live in a world that is free of harm. Instinctively, most parents try to keep their children safe. However, violence is an aspect of life that we are often exposed to whether it’s directly or indirectly.

In my profession as a social caseworker, I’ve learned that when individuals experience violence it can affect them in many ways and everyone’s reaction is different. However, the residual effects seem to be the same as families are torn apart due to their inability to cope with stressors that accompany the loss of a loved one. In addition, violence and absenteeism due to the incarceration of loved ones for violent acts also play a critical role.

I wholeheartedly believe that how families and communities process the violence around them can determine the effects on our children.

As an individual alone I can only service a small fraction of my families’ needs. But as a community we can begin to heal by asking ourselves, “What do we need to make a change to prevent another tragedy and to make our children feel safe, secure, and happy in their communities?”

Barbara Ellis works as a child welfare social caseworker. She works with children, young adults, and families in crisis who have been exposed to some level of violence. Ellis has received a MA degree in Counseling from Rhode Island College.

Photo by Jude Beck via Unsplash @judebeck