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Philadelphia ReCAST

Program Overview

ReCAST — which stands for Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma — promotes resilience and equity in communities that recently faced civil unrest with a focus on youth and young adults and their families by developing evidence-based violence prevention and community youth-engagement programs, as well as offering linkages to trauma-informed behavioral health services. Over five years (2021-2026), this program will work closely with residents and community leaders to provide services, resources, and initiatives that promote resilience and equity, improve behavioral health connections, and reduce trauma through a sustained community-change process. 

This program is led by the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) in collaboration with Temple University and other community stakeholders.

More Information

Neighborhoods of Focus

West Philadelphia

  • Cobbs Creek
  • Mill Creek-Parkside
  • Paschall-Kingsessing

North Philadelphia

  • Nicetown-Tioga
  • Sharswood-Stanton
  • Strawberry Mansion
Our Goals
  • Reduce trauma among high-risk youth and families in the six targeted neighborhoods through the implementation of evidence-based violence prevention programs, community- and youth-development programs, and linkages to trauma-informed behavioral health services.
  • Create opportunities for faith leaders and treatment providers of color to infuse the treatment system with practice-based culturally competent evidence.
  • Expand culturally competent trauma-informed behavioral health practices in schools and community youth programs through training in evidence-based practices designed for communities of color, such as PLAAY (Preventing Long Term Anger and Aggression in Youth).
  • Create youth support and leadership development. Philadelphia ReCAST will build an Emerging Leaders Community.
  • Ensure that community leaders and young adults have the tools they need to conduct evaluations without researchers driving the process.
Key Activities and Initiatives
  • Table Talks
  • Community Strategic Plan
  • Community Advisory Council 
  • Mini-Grants Program
  • PLAAY
  • SOS
  • Network of Neighbors
Resources
Research & Publications

Coming soon!

Contact Information

Valarie Oulds, ReCAST Project Director

Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

Email:  valarie.oulds@phila.gov

Funder

Our work is made possible thanks to the support of the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  DBHIDS's mission is to education, strengthen and service individuals and communities so that all Philadelphians can thrive.