BALTIMORE — Baltimore City leaders on Thursday formally began requiring all senior-level cabinet members to be trained in Trauma-Informed Care.
According to Mayor Brandon Scott, all must receive the training within 30 days.
The training is part of the Elijah Cummings Healing City Act.
It aims to make Baltimore the first major city in America to comprehensively legislate trauma-informed care.
The Elijah Cummings Healing City Act went into effect on March 10, 2020.
"I have always said violence is fundamentally a public health issue, and addressing trauma is critical to prioritizing the lives of Baltimoreans," said Mayor Brandon Scott.
While seen as a step in the right direction, some suffering from trauma like the Paz family say it's a little too late.
"Every day I think of my daughter. She's no longer here and the city can't do anything to bring her back. " said Rozana Paz.
Rozana lost her daughter Nayeli to gun violence. The 18-year-old was an innocent bystander who was shot during a reported road rage incident back in October.
WMAR-2 News asked the family if at any point they've received any guidance, trauma or counseling services since Nayely's death.
"Other than two of my teachers, there's been nothing," said Nayely's sister Yeymi. "I don't think they understand what it's like to lose someone unless they've gone through this."
Baltimore City officials admitted the training won't be an immediate fix but adds it's a step in the right direction.
“Too many of our residents are walking around with the weight of agony and suffering from the harm they’ve endured. We certainly cannot solve this pain instantaneously with this training or a task force, but we can come together as Baltimore’s leaders as we have here to act deliberately and with urgency to make things better tomorrow than they are today," said Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby.
Training will be conducted by the Health Department in partnership with community-based organizations. The legislation also authorizes a task force charged with developing a citywide strategy for reducing and addressing trauma.
The task force is comprised of 11 city agencies and 16 members from the community.
As for the Paz family and their daughter's unsolved murder they're asking anyone with information to call police.
"If you know something, say something," said Rozana.
