In some St. Louis neighborhoods, exposure to violence and trauma has become so common that many residents no longer recognize the need for help, according to James Clark, vice president of public safety and executive director of the Neighborhood Alliance at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
“Exposure to trauma, violence and other adverse social conditions has become normalized,” Clark said. “Many residents are left without the resources needed to heal and recover.”
Public health researchers say the effects of violence often extend far beyond the immediate victims and can shape the health and well-being of entire communities.
“Violence is not only an immediate safety issue; it is also a driver of long-term health and well-being,” said Ilana Seff, a research associate professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
To help address those needs, Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) has awarded $345,997 to six St. Louis-area organizations that provide support services for crime victims and residents impacted by violence.
The funding will be distributed through ARCHS’ Neighborhood Healing Network, which was established in 2020 to connect crime victims and their families with counseling, advocacy, housing assistance and other support services. Grant recipients include Better Family Life, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, Crime Victim Center of St. Louis, Fathers and Families Support Center, Mission: St. Louis and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
ARCHS President and CEO Leslie Johnson Jr. said the network was created in response to rising violence involving young people and was designed to address the broader impact of crime on entire communities.
“ARCHS launched the Neighborhood Healing Network in response to a troubling rise in fatal shootings involving children and young adults,” Johnson said. “From the outset, NHN was designed to support not only individual victims of crime, but also the broader communities impacted by violence — neighborhoods filled with family and friends whose needs are too often overlooked.”
Since its launch, the network has served more than 3,000 people affected by homicide, domestic violence, physical assault, vehicular victimization and community violence. Johnson said domestic violence survivors account for about 65% of those served through the program, making it the largest area of need. Demand also continues to grow for shelter, transportation assistance, counseling and legal services.
Clark said the new funding will allow the Urban League to expand clinical services, counseling and therapeutic support in underserved communities while strengthening efforts to identify residents who may be struggling with untreated trauma or mental health challenges.
The organization is training Urban Engagement Specialists, faith leaders and neighborhood outreach teams to recognize warning signs that may indicate a need for intervention and connect residents with services before situations escalate.
Long-term recovery requires making mental health services available within the neighborhoods most affected by violence, Clark said.
Through the Urban League’s Pulpit to Porches initiative, the organization has piloted Neighborhood Trauma Centers inside trusted community churches. The centers provide screenings, referrals, counseling and resource navigation services close to residents’ homes.
Following the May 2025 tornado that devastated parts of North St. Louis, three churches were activated as Neighborhood Trauma Centers under the direction of Joy Camp, the Urban League’s director of clinical services. Over four months, the sites provided services, referrals and emotional support to 121 families affected by the disaster.
Building on the pilot’s success, Clark said the Urban League is working with mental health providers and community partners to expand the model throughout the St. Louis region.
“Our goal is to create a sustainable network of community-based locations where residents can access compassionate, culturally responsive mental health services and support on their path toward healing and recovery,” he said.
Organizations receiving Neighborhood Healing Network funding provide a range of services, including help applying for crime victim compensation, emergency financial assistance, transportation and childcare support, legal referrals, counseling and relocation assistance for victims seeking safer housing.
Seff said community-based organizations are often a critical part of a public health response to violence because they are embedded in the neighborhoods they serve and may be more trusted than formal institutions.
“Trauma centers, advocacy services, housing supports and counseling programs can reduce the long-term effects of violence by helping survivors stabilize, regain safety and agency, and connect to ongoing care,” she said.
During the past year, the Neighborhood Healing Network provided 506 crime victims with 1,323 referrals for counseling, advocacy, housing assistance and other support services. Dickson said ARCHS uses a coordinated “we care hand-off” approach to ensure survivors successfully connect with providers instead of navigating multiple agencies on their own.
“NHN clients are not shuffled from one organization to another but are supported through a coordinated process that helps the victim successfully connect to services,” she said.
Despite progress, significant gaps remain. Dickson said families affected by violence continue to face barriers to safe and affordable housing, transportation, trauma-informed counseling, legal advocacy and emergency assistance. Those challenges are often compounded when victims are caring for children.
She also pointed to a shortage of culturally responsive mental health professionals equipped to address grief, post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma in Black communities.
“A critical need across the region is a stronger pipeline of culturally responsive counselors equipped to address grief, PTSD and trauma within urban African American communities,” Dickson said.
“This is love work,” Dickson said. “Success means that survivors are not only receiving services, but also moving toward healing, stability and hope.”
According to ARCHS, participating agencies contributed an additional $161,816 in matching and donated resources during the most recent grant cycle to expand services for victims and their families.