2024 Community Benefit Report

Trauma Resiliency

Helping patients and families heal from violence through recovery, connection and long-term support

Helping patients and families heal from violence through recovery, connection, and long-term support

Meet Tre

Supporting Recovery After Trauma

Tre Nowaczynski supports children and families in the immediate aftermath of violence—listening first, then helping them take the next step. As a Pediatric Violence Recovery Specialist, he brings calm to chaos, making sure families know they're not alone and helping them feel safe again. His work is rooted in empathy, presence and a belief that even in crisis, healing can begin with connection.

Trauma recovery is so much more than treating an injury—it's about restoring dignity, addressing deeper harm and making sure patients and families don't face it alone."

Tre Nowaczynski, Pediatric Violence Recovery Specialist

Violence Recovery Program

UChicago Medicine's Violence Recovery Program (VRP) is a national model for hospital-based violence intervention. VRP Specialists support victims of intentional violence and their families – starting in the emergency department (ED) and continuing after discharge. Support includes:

Crisis intervention
Referrals for housing, jobs, food, education and funeral assistance

Since 2018, the VRP has supported over 11,000 patients.

2024 impact:

3,794 total patient encounters
1,946 patients engaged in emergency department crisis response
62% enrolled in case management
81% of those in need received referrals for essential services

Program highlights:

In April 2024, the VRP led a four-day workshop with OSF Strive to expand trauma recovery in Rockford, Illinois.
In November 2024, VRP and Recovery Legal Care received a $4.92 million grant to study the impact of free legal help on recovery and violence prevention.
Medical students from the Pritzker School of Medicine now shadow VRP Specialists to learn about trauma-informed care.

Healing Families After Trauma

The Block Hassenfeld Casdin (BHC) Collaborative for Family Resilience helps children and families heal from violence and trauma by connecting them with recovery programs and community-based resources. Core programs include:

Violence Recovery Program (VRP)
Child Life
Spiritual Care
REACT Clinic (Recovery & Empowerment After Community Trauma)
Healing Hurt People – Chicago

BHC Collaborative Impact

422

violently injured pediatric patients supported

119

children and families received spiritual care

2,180+

pediatric patients served through VRP since 2019

Data period: October 2023 – September 2024

Southland RISE

Resilience Initiative to Strengthen and Empower

Southland RISE is a partnership between the trauma recovery programs at UChicago Medicine and Advocate Health Care, created to support healing, prevent violence and strengthen community resilience. Inspired by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's Chicago HEAL Initiative, Southland RISE invests in local organizations and youth programs across the South Side and south suburbs—building safer, more connected communities through collaboration and care.

In 2024, Southland RISE:

Funded 19 summer programs with $150,000
Reached up to 8,500 residents through arts, sports and youth leadership programs

Since its launch:

$800,000+ granted to over 60 community organizations

Wellness Resiliency Arts Program (WRAP)

WRAP is a two-week summer program where teens use art to process trauma and explore social issues. Funded by the Urban Health Initiative and run in partnership with the Center for Community Health and Vitality, WRAP is led by professional teaching artists and social work specialists.

2024 highlights:

27 youth participants
Hands-on workshops in dance, drumming, poetry, writing and visual art
All content delivered through a trauma-informed lens

Learn more