Program Information

Post-Trauma Response Teams (PTRT) are available to communities and groups within Onondaga County who have been impacted by a recent critical/traumatic event. The PTRT mission is to provide a caring and compassionate response through a trauma sensitive lens. PTRT began as a project of the Onondaga Community Trauma Task Force (OCTTF), not affiliated with an agency, organization, or government. OCTTF created this service after meeting with community members in 2018 about gaps in community mental health resources. PTRT launched in April 2021 to respond to the emotional and psychological impact of traumatic events in our communities. In May 2023, Huntington Family Centers assumed operations and oversight of the Post-Trauma Response Teams (PTRT) to support the on-going mission and vision of this community resource.

Who is PTRT?

Post Trauma Response Teams (PTRT) consist of teams of volunteers who have training and expertise providing emotional/psychological support to people experiencing distress/trauma. PTRT members are skilled listeners able to provide supportive counseling, crisis reduction support, problem solving, stress/trauma response education and strategies, debriefings, identification of natural supports, community resources and referral information.

Possible events impacting a group of individuals that could lead to a request for PTRT could include but are not limited to: death(s) or near death(s) of individuals by homicide, suicide, accidents; witnessing violence, and/or mass injury/casualty events, disasters. PTRT is a post-event resource and is not designed to provide an emergency or 1st response. Any member of the community, agency representative, school, faith-based or other organization, law enforcement, fire department, business, etc. can call to request PTRT.

PTRT is not built to be a primary support for an individual or for family-only events.

Clinicians work with individuals and families to determine what their needs are related to the above factors. At every visit and throughout treatment, safety and risk assessments are made and services are adjusted to meet needs.

The family’s treatment plan reflects a balance of identified needs and strengths. Clinicians collaborate with families to develop an individualized treatment plan, leveraging the unique culture and strengths of each family while tailoring goals that address their needs.

Call 211 to request a PTRT consultation or response. The 211 staff will gather information about the incident and then contact PTRT. A PTRT member will then contact you within 24 hours of the initial call and will discuss your needs and concerns. Together you will determine next steps. PTRT responses may include phone consultation, face-to-face or virtual group support, consultations with callers requesting information and assistance on how to help others. PTRT response may be provided by one or more team members based on identified needs

Call 211 to request a PTRT consultation or response.