Our Philosophy of Violence Prevention
At In the Streets, we treat the body and the mind, knowing that we are each more than the body and more than the mind. Our availability and the depth of service that we offer make us unique.
Our work is long-term and our expertise is in-depth mind and body work; this is how we interrupt internalized oppression and patterns of relational trauma. Truly accepting and knowing the mind and the body is how our people can reclaim who they are to make positive change in the world.
Service providers working for marginalized, traumatized communities are underpaid, overwhelmed, and suffer vicarious trauma.
There is a social assumption that do-gooders do not require care or appropriate compensation
Proper mental and physical health care is often not built into their schedule and life. Given what they do for others, making time for themselves feels impossible.
They suffer, their work suffers, their clients suffer
The quality of services provided to highly traumatized communities is compromised due to the untreated trauma of service providers. We believe that service providers must engage in reflective practice and body-based healing in order to maintain an open, accepting space for people to share the hard realities of their lives.
People who experience childhood abuse, domestic violence, or assault often hide these realities. They are left wholly alone in their experiences. The work that is needed to truly interrupt passing trauma to their children is in-depth, multimodal, and complicated.
Service providers who care for others must also be cared for to effectively serve their communities.
Treating burnout and vicarious traumatization through nervous system regulation can enhance service providers’ ability to deliver quality care.
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Trauma is best interrupted in early life and the set up of early life is pregnancy. Caring for young women who have experienced relational trauma and pregnant and new mothers is our primary way of serving community members.
Mental, physical, and emotional support will help to interrupt intergenerational trauma and create healthy future generations.
