ESCAPE will provide specialized services to 400 children and their families in two regions in Puerto Rico to address and prevent post-traumatic stress disorders resulting from Hurricane Maria and to minimize the occurrence of child abuse and family violence. Specialized professionals will provide psychosocial services, with an emphasis in skills building, crisis intervention, service coordination and short-term psychological services.
Hurricane Maria's direct landfall in Puerto Rico affected the mental health of children and adults, provoking anxiety, depression and trauma. These conditions, along with the Island's current economic crisis and limited resources, have triggered increases in child abuse, family violence and suicide cases in Puerto Rico. The proposed project will provide psychosocial and psychological specialized services to children and their families to strengthen their mental health and end violence and abuse.
The project will provide children with psychotherapy , that could include games, psycho-ballet, yoga techniques among other therapeutic interventions. Adults will receive psychotherapy, case management, needs assessments to identify urgent needs (housing, food) to be immediately satisfied. They will undergo a skills learning process to address problem solving, relaxation techniques, anger management and parenting skills, among others. Crisis intervention will be provided, when needed.
The Project will provide specialized psychological and psychosocial services to 400 children and their families that are emotionally affected by the experience of Hurricane Maria. Services will be directed to strengthening their mental health and sense of well being, thus minimizing family violence and child abuse incidences. Strong, healthy and sustainable families, derive in strong, healthy and sustainable societies.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
