CNA 2022-25 vFINAL 09202022 MASTER COPY - Flipbook - Page 137
▪ There is a lot of great counseling available in our area. There is also a lot of community resources
available, and easy access to them.
▪ All of my observations regarding those who have experienced trauma and support to them have been
positive. I feel that as a community, just being more open to people and experiences that are different
than we may have experienced is important.
Negative assessments
▪ I feel like the different types of trauma may receive different kinds of support in our community. If it's
an "acceptable" trauma i.e., a natural disaster, the community rallies and supports those people
initially. I feel like the more "taboo" traumas don't get as much support. I feel like &the support for
both drop off after the initial time period. But with trauma, long-term support is needed.
▪ It is hard to find a counselor within the area and who will take Medicaid. Families can't get to the
necessary services, or if they find a counselor for them or for their child, the organization will not take
them due to the wrong or no insurance.
▪ There is not nearly enough support for trauma impacted individuals. Those seeking mental health
often have to wait more than a month to be seen by a professional&. Mental health counseling is often
seen as a luxury vs. a necessity. Many insurances cover X number of visits per year, and there are times
when that is not enough."
▪ A lot of primary care doctors will prescribe Psych drugs but not recommend therapy but the two go
hand-in-hand. We teach people to cover up their problems with prescribed drugs but never how to get
to the root of their problems. We can push them down as far as they will go, but they will never go
away.
▪ We need more mental health services in Steuben County. There are not enough specialists in Steuben
County to handle trauma situations, which leads our families and individuals going to other cities for
the services. With the price of gas, many are not getting the services due to distance.
▪ From what I observe in our systems, there is still a default stance toward rewards and punishment. If
somebody breaks the rules, they are cut off from the help, for example, or they are suspended from
school. In our self-healing communities9 model, we call this the "reject-eject" model. We need more
"right-fit engagement," sensitive responses that hold people accountable while helping them learn and
move on.
▪ My observations about the support survivors receive in our community, and at work, is I feel like we
enable them a little too much. I think we definitely need to help and support them but doing all the
"work" for them and not giving them any responsibility is enabling.
▪ Survivors need trauma therapy and treatment, which is not widely available in our community. Some
progress has been made on the topic of trauma, and the long-term impact it can have on a survivor, but
there must be more education and awareness. That education and awareness will build support for
additional treatment options and reduce judgment on those who suffer.
▪ The long-term impact of trauma is often where the least support is available and the greatest struggles
are present.
▪ There is not enough support for people who are SUFFERING (not surviving) through trauma.
Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc. Community Needs Assessment 2022 – 2025
Page 137 of 162
