High stress levels can often set-in immediately for residents after an act of violence in a neighborhood. The police are called. They come in, remove the threat, and conduct their investigation. The trauma from the event, however, lingers for days, weeks and even months at a time — if not longer.
Residents might be left unsure of what to do and how to deal with the situation, even if their family was not directly impacted by the tragedy. The truth is, while the incident may be quick and terrifying, the feeling of instability created after community upheaval can make a return to normalcy seem impossible.
This feeling of instability is likely even greater in the wake of incidents that may involve children (as either victims or witnesses), multiple victims or occur in traditionally safe spaces, such as playgrounds, schools or places of worship.
This is where the City’s Rapid Response Team comes in.
There are several City agencies that assist traumatized communities after an act of violence. However, when an act of violence is determined by the Police Commissioner and Managing Director to require a more unified, coordinated response — that’s precisely when the team is activated.
Our Rapid Response Team ensures every agency works together to provide the most immediate and effective support to assist victims, witnesses, and others impacted by the violence. Services include immediate crisis intervention and collaboration with community members to determine community needs. This may include trauma support, additional behavioral health intervention, blight remediation such as the sealing of vacant and abandoned buildings, plus fencing and cleaning of lots.
Member agencies and groups include the Community Crisis Intervention Program (CCIP), the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Town Watch Integrated Services and Licenses & Inspections (L&I) among others.
The Rapid Response Team focuses on building community resilience and often works with local organizations and nonprofits to help communities bounce back from a traumatic event.
Rapid Response is just one of many tools in the City’s gun violence reduction strategy known as the Philadelphia Roadmap to Safer Communities. We think of the Roadmap as a toolbox with several evidence-based programs or tools, which when activated, make every neighborhood more vibrant. Working together, we will achieve our vision for Philadelphia that every resident is safe from gun violence in their community, with full access to opportunities to create a path to a fulfilling life.
