Community violence affects neighborhoods across the United States and often leads to trauma. Trauma results from stressful events that leave lasting impacts on mental, emotional, and physical health.1 Because trauma and violence are closely connected, breaking this cycle requires that families and communities have the support they need to do so.
How money and opportunity play a role
Where people live and how much money they earn can affect their likelihood of experiencing violence. Families with households earning $25,000 a year or less are more likely to experience violence compared to families earning $100,000 or more.2 Poverty, job loss, and lack of affordable housing make families more vulnerable.
Young people are especially at risk, with homicide being the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 – 24.3 More than 800 young people a day are treated in emergency rooms across the country for assault-related injuries.4
Building safer communities
One of the best ways to reduce violence is to provide positive spaces for youth. Community centers provide environments where young people can learn new skills, play sports, build friendships, and find mentors. Research shows that these positive spaces not only improve mental health but also reduce the likelihood of violence.5
Mental health services are equally important. Trauma from witnessing or experiencing violence can lead to depression, anxiety, and struggles in school. Community health centers and local counseling programs play a very important role in supporting families with tools to cope and heal. Access to these services helps young people and adults move forward with resilience.
Programs that work
In 2024, violent crime in Washington, DC, dropped 35%, with homicides decreasing by 32%.6 These numbers highlight the impact that community-based programs and support services can have.
Seeking support services is an important step in healing from trauma and preventing future violence. There are programs and services that offer help for families and individuals, such as:
- National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988): A 24/7, no-cost hotline that connects anyone in emotional distress or crisis with trained counselors.
- SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990): A 24/7, no-cost helpline that provides immediate crisis counseling for people going through emotional distress related to violence, disasters, or traumas (sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
- District of Columbia Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP): A program run by a group of hospitals in DC that supports victims of violent injury while they recover in the hospital, helping to prevent retaliation and future harm.
- Cure the Streets: A program run by the DC Office of the Attorney General that uses community members as outreach workers to mediate conflicts and prevent shootings in neighborhoods most affected by gun violence.
Youth centers, mental health services, job opportunities, and strong neighborhood programs all help address trauma and prevent future violence. By working together, we can create safer, healthier communities for everyone.
Choosing the Right Care
Knowing where to go for medical care can make a big difference in how quickly you get help and how much money you may spend. Emergency rooms (ERs), urgent care centers, and telemedicine all serve important roles, but each is designed for different needs.
The ER should only be used for life-threatening situations. You should go to the ER or call 911 if you are having symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, stroke symptoms, seizures, or loss of consciousness.7 These require immediate attention that only an ER can provide.
Urgent care is a better choice for problems that need quick treatment but are not life-threatening. These can include fevers, ear infections, sprains, minor cuts, or rashes. Urgent care centers can handle these conditions faster and often with shorter wait times than the ER.
Telemedicine is another option that has become more valuable. Telemedicine allows you to connect with a provider by phone or video quickly and is best for routine illnesses such as colds, allergies, or follow-up questions about medications. It can save you time and help determine if you need to go to urgent care or the ER.
For AmeriHealth Caritas DC enrollees, there are several urgent care options available to get care quickly, such as:
- RelyMD: Urgent care that enrollees can receive by phone or video chat through the RelyMD app.
- DispatchHealth: An AmeriHealth Caritas DC provider that offers urgent medical care at home.
- Nurse Call Line: Enrollees can call the 24/7 Nurse Call Line to help determine what type of care they might need, or to get help accessing one of the other urgent care options.
To learn more about urgent care options for enrollees, visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com.
Sources
- “What is Trauma?” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/trauma-violence - “Criminal Victimization, 2022,” Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice,
https://bjs.ojp.gov/document/cv22.pdf - “Adolescent Health,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/adolescent-health.htm
- “About Youth Violence,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
https://www.cdc.gov/youth-violence/about/index.html - Salima Meherali et al., “Safe Space for Youth Mental Health: A Scoping Review,” PLOS One, April 4, 2025,
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0321074 - “Violent Crime in D.C. Hits 30-Year Low,” United States Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia, January 3, 2025,
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/violent-crime-dc-hits-30-year-low - “Emergency Department (ER), Urgent Care or Express Care: Which Do You Need?” Cleveland Clinic,
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15940-emergency-room-urgent-care-or-express-care-which-do-you-need
All images are submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia and are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model.