Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.*
In June we raise awareness of PTSD on this often overlooked issue that many people face. The prevalence of PTSD in youth in foster care is very high - as many as 1 in 4 foster youth may experience PTSD. Former foster children are also twice as likely as U.S. war veterans to experience PTSD in adulthood.*
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) play an important role in the lives of these children. Experiencing abuse, neglect and other forms of trauma can impact physical and mental health, academic achievement, and more. The support of a CASA/GAL volunteer can help children build resilience to counter those impacts.
Research shows:
Having a stable relationship with a supportive adult can help children do well, even when they have faced significant hardships.
· CASA/GAL volunteers are trained to understand the impact of trauma on children.
· They spend time with children and the people in their lives. They talk to service providers, teachers and social workers to gather information that will help them make informed recommendations to the court.
· Based on what they learn, our volunteers also advocate for services that promote healing, that help children develop resilience without causing additional trauma.
· They encourage services that strengthen parents’ relationships with their children.*
To learn more about how CASA volunteers help address the effects of abuse, neglect and other trauma, or to get information on becoming a volunteer in your area, click here.
*Psychiatry.org
*Safy.org
*Nationalcasa.org