As Tuesday, September 21, 2021, ended, there were 391 reported homicides in Philadelphia, up 17% from the same time last year, which was one of the deadliest on record in the city’s history.
City leaders are hoping more funds can help stem the violence. The new city budget allocates nearly $156 million on anti-violence measures, $22 million of which will go toward the Anti-Violence Community Expansion Grant Program. The program is designed to provide funds to organizations working toward reducing violent crime in the city.
Meanwhile, there are other kinds of assistance out there for families who know they have someone in their home, involved with violence, or who because of mental health issues, could possibly become violent.
Imani Badie shared some of her knowledge with us at the SCOOP, so that we could, in turn, share the information with our SCOOP Readers.
Imani Badie is a Committeeperson for the 3rd Ward, 1st Division. In her professional life, she’s a community specialist for North Philadelphia Health System at Girard Medical Center. She’s a board member of the Black Women’s Health Alliance, and she says through that organization, they run a parenting program. Badie commented, “I’m the co-chair for the Philadelphia County Leadership team under the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities. I meet with all youth-serving agencies once a month and use my personal and professional experience to advocate for families who have children with behavioral health challenges.”
“I sit on a lot of committees working with families that are living with various concerns. The impact of gun violence in our city has been alarming, and many families don’t always know how to access help, said Badie. “I believe the family committee under the Department of Behavioral Health can be a supportive place for caregivers to get help, as well as parenting classes that educate and empower parents to parent more effectively.”
She continued, “I’m a parent advocate and leader. One of the reasons I joined the County leadership team was so that I could have an impact and make a difference for the youth and families. I personally have been impacted by gun violence. My oldest son was shot to death when he was 22. I have two other sons who have been victims of gun violence. They survived, and I’ve been able to get them back on track. One of my nephews was shot seven times. Violence has hit me and my family, so I understand clearly what it feels like to see the hurtful and devastating effects of gun violence. There’s a tie-in between trauma, gun violence, and behavioral health issues. A lot of our children have suffered from trauma. Untreated trauma in childhood creates a chaotic adult. Because I sit on these different committees, I advocate for families who have children with behavioral health issues who, are involved in DHS, the Juvenile Justice System, or that have any type of intellectual disabilities. I want people to know that there is a place that families can go to if they have behavioral health issues with their children and they feel like they’re not getting the support they need.
There’s also help for adults, according to Imani Badie. She stated, “The National Association of Mental Health Alliance (NAMI) is there to help adults who have mental health concerns. You’ll find that most of our inner-city children have been impacted by violence one way or another. Too often, unfortunately, it’s untreated, and trauma has to be dealt with. That’s why so many of our youth are operating from a space of “disfunction.”
SCOOP Readers can contact the Women’s Health Alliance at 215-225-0394, or they can also call the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, emergency mental health crisis line at 215-685-6440.
Benita Tillman shared information about the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center (CCTC) in Philadelphia. They too, are here to help. CCTC works with children in trauma, children with mental health concerns, behavioral issues, children with autism. They work with children up to the age of 13. I sit on the advisory board for CCTC called Caring Families. I facilitate parenting classes there. People need to know that CCTC is not just for children. They educate parents as well. I’ve been volunteering with the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center for about 10-years. Before that, my son went through the therapeutic nursery program they have, and he remained a part of the CCTC program until the age of 12. I started going to parenting classes, and I learned more about mental health. As things turned out, I ended up being on their parent advisory board. I learned so much being there. I have a Master’s Degree in Accounting, but I have to say, I learned more about finances and budgeting from being around CCTC and volunteering and sitting in on classes, and being on the advisory board than I did in my Accounting classes. It was an opportunity for me as a parent, to grow.”
“I grew up at CCTC, as well as my son. They provided my son with services, but I got services too,” added Tillman. She also had high praises for the National Association of Mental Health Alliance (NAMI) of Philadelphia. CCTC educated me on what we can do to help our children with mental health issues. Now NAMI is educating me on how to best help my son, as he prepares to become an adult.
The phone number for the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center is 215-496-0707. The phone number for the National Association of Mental Health Alliance (NAMI) of Philadelphia is 267-687-4381.
Brenda Dunston is the Executive Director of the Black Women’s Health Alliance. Melodie Jackson is the Family Specialist with the Philadelphia System of Care under DBHIDS. She runs the family committee. Families in need of help and support for youth with behavioral issues can call her at 215-375-6181.
Help is out here for our families in crisis or to avert a crisis. You have to reach out and use the phone numbers provided.
Stay safe. Stay well. Stay masked up Philadelphia!
