The Baltimore City Council approved new legislation Monday night set to help city agencies identify the symptoms of trauma and help reduce its effect on children, according to WBAL-TV 11.
The Baltimore City Trauma-Responsive Care Act will establish a citywide task force with the purpose of identifying children who have experienced trauma and assist them in finding help.
Councilman Zeke Cohen sponsored the bill, stating over 50% of the children in Baltimore have experienced at least one type of major trauma. If this trauma goes unaddressed, the possibility of the young person becoming an offender or victim of violence increases, Cohen said.
The new law requires all city agencies to be trained in identifying trauma and how to respond to it appropriately. The bill also calls for city agencies to readdress their policies in efforts to reduce re-traumatization.
On top of the new law, council members also addressed a bill that would create a tax break for veterans and their surviving spouses, a property tax credit for low-income employees and the possibility of creating a private security camera rebate system.
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