A Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) provides trauma-informed mental health treatment and case management to underserved crime victims who may not be eligible for victim compensation, or who may be fearful of reporting a crime to law enforcement.
CalVCB uses the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) TRC Model to award grants through a competitive application process. The grant program is guided by California Government Codes 13963.1 and 13963.2, and requires a core multidisciplinary team of a licensed clinical social worker, a psychologist and a psychiatrist.
People served by the model report substantial improvements in health and well-being.
TRCs offer evidence-based individual, group, and family services such as psychotherapy; crisis intervention; medication management; legal advocacy and assistance in filing police reports and accessing victim compensation funds. These services are offered at no cost to the patient.
TRC services are available for victims of violent crime including but not limited to:
- gun violence
- sexual assault
- domestic violence
- human trafficking
- hate crimes
People who have had a family member assaulted or killed are also eligible for TRC services.
According to the National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers, the benefits of TRCs are numerous. They:
- Address the needs of underserved crime survivors. TRCs in California report addressing the needs primarily of clients who are largely low-income and/or from communities of color.
- Serve victims impacted by multiple crimes and who have multiple needs. TRCs help crime survivors make connections to safer housing, medical care and additional key services.
- Provide culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services. TRCs use a culturally sensitive approach to ensure that diverse communities of crime survivors are respectfully and effectively served. Many work with local nonprofit groups and recruit staff from the communities they serve.
According to the National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers, TRC services result in the following benefits:
- Improvements in mental health and quality of life: When TRC clients self-rated their functioning at the end of treatment, more than 9 out of 10 people said treatment helped them feel better emotionally. Treatment outcome data shows that TRC clients’ PTSD symptoms decrease by as much as 38 percent, and symptoms of depression decline by more than half. TRC clients report experiencing less physical pain, increased quality of life and improved sleep quality following treatment.
- Victim compensation application rate: TRC services significantly reduce disparities in the number of victim compensation applications filed by crime survivors who are younger, have less education, face housing challenges or are homeless.
- Return-to-work rate: Clients participating in TRC services returned to work at a rate 56 percent higher than clients receiving usual care.
- Cooperation with law enforcement: TRC clients were 44 percent more likely to cooperate with a district attorney to solve crimes than clients receiving usual care. Among sexual assault victims, clients served by a TRC were 69 percent more likely to file a police report than those served by usual care. TRCs also train hundreds of law enforcement officials every year in trauma-informed approaches.
- Reduced treatment costs: Each hour of TRC care costs about a third less than usual care. The cost-effectiveness of the model is all the more noteworthy because TRCs provide a wider range of services than fee-for-service care, including case management that can leverage other resources.
Currently, CalVCB funds the following 22 TRCs across California:
- Amanecer Community Counseling Service (Los Angeles County)
- Safe Harbor (Los Angeles County)
- Palomar Health Foundation/One Safe Place (San Diego County)
- Strength United / The University Corporation (Los Angeles County)
- Olive View (Los Angeles County)
- Special Service for Groups / HOPICS (Los Angeles County)
- Rady Children’s Hospital (San Diego County)
- Partnership for Trauma Recovery (Alameda County)
- Solano Trauma Recovery Center (Solano County)
- Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance (Contra Costa County)
- A Quarter Blue (Orange County)
- Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (Alameda County)
- Citrus Counseling Services, Inc. (San Bernardino County)
- CSU Long Beach Research Foundation (Los Angeles County)
- MIRACLES Counseling Center, Inc. (Los Angeles County)
- The Regents of the UCSF (San Francisco County)
- University of Southern California (USC), Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work (Los Angeles County)
- Downtown Women’s Center (Los Angeles County)
- Ruby’s Place (Alameda County)
- Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (Alameda County)
- County of Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office (Santa Clara County)
- Community Resource Center (San Diego County)
TRCs are funded through CalVCB from the Restitution Fund and the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act Fund.
CalVCB annually awards two-year grants through a competitive application process. For more information, visit our Grant Opportunities page.
Resources:
Trauma Recovery Centers: Addressing the Needs of Underserved Crime Survivors
Q: If someone’s CalVCB application is denied, can they still get services at a TRC?
A: Yes, TRC clients do not have to meet CalVCB eligibility requirements
Q: Does an organization have to use the UCSF TRC Model to get a CalVCB TRC grant?
A: Yes, The UCSF TRC Model is required by CA Govt Codes 13963.1 and 13963.2
Q: How long does a CalVCB TRC grant last?
A: A grant award can be spent over two fiscal years from July 1 through June 30, and an organization can apply for a subsequent grant.
Q: Is there a limit to the amount I can apply for?
A: There are currently no limits to the amount an applicant can request. Actual award amounts are based on the amount of funding available and the number of qualified applicants each award cycle.
Download the TRC Fact Sheet.