Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with The Ohio State University (OSU), in an amount up to $27,968.00, to create opportunities for healing with a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention with justice-involved Black girls and their parents and caregivers.
In light of the tragic death of Ma'Khia Bryant several weeks ago, there is an urgent need to provide specific, targeted support for criminal justice system-involved and at-risk Black girls. These girls are experiencing more stress due to the coronavirus and its effect on their mothers (parents/caregivers), with 57% noting that their mental health was worse due to the virus and its affects. In partnership with the Columbus City Council (CCC), Franklin County Juvenile Court (FCJC) FCJC staff will refer interested parent/caregiver-dyads to the OSU program. This intervention will help reduce stress among all participants and promote restoration and healing that will reduce the potential for law-breaking behavior.
The targeted constituents include court-involved Black girls aged 14-17 who are also disproportionality affected by PTSD, with 70% of girls with histories of sexual or physical abuse as well as their parents/caregivers. The parent/caregiver-child dyads will undergo a stress reduction intervention, i.e., Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR). MBSR may improve PTSD symptomatology, which is linked to delinquency and other risky behaviors. MBSR may help modulate the dysregulated stress response in the body to improve physical and mental health concurrently.
The project will be led by Dr. Camille R. Quinn, a licensed, independent social worker in Ohio and Assistant Professor at the OSU College of Social Work. Her work draws on over 20 years of prior experience in social and health services as a practitioner and administrator. She is a funded researcher and has substantive expertise to develop and tailor interventions ...
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