Blog » Notes from the 2023 Drexel MCH Symposium

Notes from the 2023 Drexel MCH Symposium

June 27, 2023

On June 1, 2023, Drexel University held the 2023 Drexel Maternal and Child Health Symposium: Gun Violence: Impacts & Solutions from an MCH Perspective. The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) conference, “highlight[ed] the work of communities and programs seeking to reduce the impact of gun violence on maternal and child health populations, including women, children, youth, and families.” CFR Staff Therapist Amy Jones was in attendance and shares the following notes from the 2023 Drexel MCH Symposium.

Picture of Dr. Ruth Abaya looking directly at the camera against a grey background. She is wearing a black shirt with gold hoop earrings. She has long dark hair and is looking directly at the camera.

Dr. Ruth Abaya, MD, MPH (pictured here) an Attending Physician in the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and this year’s Drexel MCH Symposium keynote speaker.

Notes from the 2023 Drexel MCH Symposium

In addition to being a Staff Therapist at CFR, I have been working as part of a team to develop a CFR Community Trauma Response Program that will provide mental health support in the aftermath of a crisis or loss in communities or organizations. Historically, CFR clinicians have responded to requests for such help on an ad hoc basis; but the need is growing. CFR is working to formalize our services and system of responding to reach more communities in need. As part of developing the program, we are connecting with other organizations doing this work to learn about existing resources, determine how our strengths as clinicians and organizations can best address the needs, and collaborate with others addressing trauma and violence in Philadelphia communities.  

This led me to attend the 2023 Drexel Maternal and Child Health Symposium entitled, Gun Violence: Impacts and Solutions from a Maternal and Child Health Perspective. The symposium was full of thoughtful, wise and passionate speakers who gave voice to their personal and professional experiences with gun violence in Philadelphia.  

For those who were not able to attend, I hope that sharing the following messages from the speakers will help highlight and promote these important ideas. I hope that this helps my colleagues in the mental health field consider what roles we can play in responding to traumatic losses in our communities. 

If you are interested in learning more about CFR’s Community Trauma Response Program contact Dr. Sara Corse, Director of Community Partnerships Initiatives, at scorse@councilforrelationships.org.

Download CFR’s Notes from the 2023 Drexel MCH Symposium

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Portrait of Amy Jones against a brown wooden background wearing a blue shirt with long dark hair. She is looking directly at the camera and is smiling.

CFR Staff Therapist Amy Jones (pictured here) has been providing therapy through CFR since 2018.

About the Author

Amy Jones, MSW, MFT, LCSW, is a CFR Staff Therapist. If you have questions about the her notes on the 2023 Drexel MCH Symposium you may contact her by clicking here.

If you are looking for individual, couple, or family therapy or psychiatry, click here to request an appointment. See our Therapist & Psychiatrist Directory to find additional CFR therapists or psychiatrists near you.

About CFR’s Community Partnerships Initiatives

Council for Relationships’ Community Partnerships Initiatives (CPI) brings therapy on-site to partner organizations serving clients who need it most, but experience barriers to access.

To learn more about CPI and organizations we partner with, click here.