Cincinnati — federal number More than two-thirds of children have experienced at least one traumatic event by age 16. This initiative aims to support local organizations addressing such health issues through a $1 million grant.

Jayla Bradshaw is a sophomore. Princeton High School.

“I like it,” said Bradshaw. “It’s like middle school. It’s like a little more work.”

But school wasn’t always easy for Bradshaw. She said there were challenges with virtual learning during the pandemic.

“You really had to learn on your own and you couldn’t get help from your classmates because they weren’t with you,” she said. It was lonely to do.”

Virtual learning also meant spending a lot of time at home. This led her to fight her brother on a regular basis.

“My brother and I were always together and often fought because we didn’t have enough space and time for ourselves,” she said.

wound healing center Helping hundreds of teenagers like Bradshaw. Provides free counseling services to traumatized inner-city children. Dr. Shantell Thomas, a professional clinical counselor, says this is very important for the community.

“We decided we needed a place where children would come to talk about trauma and pain and hurt, rather than play it out in ways that hurt themselves or anyone else,” Thomas said.

Bradshaw said these services help her because they give her another perspective and allow her to feel more comfortable expressing herself.

“When you talk to your parents, they’re your siblings, and they’re your children, so people who don’t know you won’t be able to understand you.

We can now help even more teens thanks to a $1 million health equity fund from . Bethesda Ideas Investments Innovation, better known as Bi3. They are one of nine black-led organizations in Cincinnati that receive funding to address poverty and systemic inequality. The center received $20,000 in grants.

“Now there are families who couldn’t come and some we had to turn down because we couldn’t do pro bono work for everyone,” Thomas said. can help them, anyone who walks through the door can get those services.”

This fund is part of a three-year investment. Bi3 hopes to make more such investments in the future.