The 1960s were a period of persistent racial discrimination and oppression, which created unrest and discontent that led to riots. However, President Kennedy supported helping the poor through the passage of the Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Crime Control Act and the Mentally Retarded Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Act . The first provided services to inner-city youth aimed at “preventing and treating delinquency” (Trattner, WI, 1999, P. 320), which would have helped Anita's son, Anthony. This likely would have also helped many other youth in the neighborhood and may have prevented much of the violence that neighborhood residents were exposed to. The latter law provided funding for community mental health centers, which could have helped Anita with supported employment, parenting education, food and financial assistance, and help her deal with the loss and trauma she experienced. her experiences during childhood, marriage and as a single parent. live in a poor neighborhood. Anthony likely would have also benefited from mental health counseling and trauma-informed care. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay If I could enact additional policies, I would first enact legislation to fund trauma-informed programs and services to be introduced in all schools. All staff and teachers would be trained in trauma-informed practices and how to work as a team to ensure students have a safe environment in which to learn. Teaching methods and styles, as well as school policies and programs would ensure that the physical, emotional and mental needs of each student are taken into account. The trauma-informed framework would include regular collaboration with community partners, such as law enforcement, community mental health centers, the Department of Human Services, medical services, and other stakeholders closely involved in life children and their families. Another policy I would create is one that provides training and funding for community resource and crisis response teams, made up of a law enforcement officer and a professional mental health. These teams would be embedded within the community where they would get to know residents, build positive relationships, and begin to identify and work with those who are most at risk of becoming involved in the legal and/or mental health systems. Such teams could build trust between law enforcement, mental health providers, and the community, which could help prevent the violence that existed in Anita's neighborhood, while providing role models positive for young people and a stabilizing influence in the community. mind: This is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a personalized essay. Last, but not least, I would like to see programs such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, parks and recreation programs, teen centers, and kids clubs. that programs be prioritized in low-income neighborhoods to provide counseling, mentoring and positive role models, as well as safe places to participate in after-school activities and get children off the streets and into the community.