HB 2594 establishes standards for trauma recovery centers, which aim to address trauma in underserved communities to stop cycles of victimization

PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey last week signed into law HB 2594, which defines what services and funding would be required for a provider to qualify as a trauma recovery center (TRC). A TRC is an evidence-based model of care that provides comprehensive services to crime survivors, including mental health and crisis intervention, as well as assistance in navigating legal and health systems. The Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) released the following statement from Aswad Thomas, Vice President at ASJ and the National Director for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice:

“Trauma after violence is known to take a physical and emotional toll on survivors, and when it's left unaddressed, it can lead to revictimization and contribute to cycles of crime. For communities most impacted by crime, this means countless victims are left to heal on their own, struggling to maintain housing, jobs, and financial stability.

We've seen the life-altering impact that the trauma recovery model has had for survivors accessing services to help them recover from violence. Thanks to Representative Toma and Governor Ducey, we can now start the process of bringing this proven model here to Arizona.

Any public safety strategy must include the voices and needs of crime survivors. HB 2594 prioritizes a common sense approach that tackles the root causes of crime, and will lay the groundwork to strengthening our communities. We all want a safer Arizona, and today's bill signing gets us closer to that goal.”

The full text of the bill can be read here. About the Alliance for Safety and Justice The Alliance for Safety and Justice is a national organization that aims to win evidence-based new safety priorities in states across the country. It also brings together diverse crime survivors to advance policies that help communities most harmed by crime and violence, as part of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice – its national network of over 90,000 crime survivors with thousands of members in Arizona. For more information, visit: https://allianceforsafetyandjustice.org or https://cssj.org.

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