The Communities Addressing Childhood Trauma (ACT) Program is designed to build a body of evidence around innovative methods for promoting healthy behaviors among minority and/or disadvantaged youth at-risk of poor life and health outcomes due to childhood trauma.
Grantees should serve minority and/or disadvantaged youth and their families who reside in communities with a high exposure to trauma and toxic stress. Chronic traumatic situations could include community violence (e.g., homicides, nonfatal assaults, school violence, and suicide), domestic violence; and some forms of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect, among other forms of trauma.
Innovative interventions that address childhood trauma should be aimed at youth ages 5 to 15 years of age who have been exposed to trauma, as well as support services for their families. ACT grantees should specifically address unhealthy behaviors in minority youth and offer them opportunities to learn coping skills and gain experiences that can provide more positive alternatives and enable them to build knowledge and aptitude in making healthier life choices, including coping strategies, confidence building, improved communication skills, resilience, educational attainment, and leadership abilities.
The ACT Program will also work to support the goals of My Brother’s Keeper, the initiative started by President Barack Obama to ensure that all young people reach their full potential, including boys and young men of minority communities.