Trauma In Foster Care

“Adolescents and children that enter the foster care system are a highly traumatized population, with higher rates of trauma higher than the general public (Miller, Green, Fettes & Aarons 2011; Salazar, Thomas, Gowen, & Mark 2013). “One study found that the overall trauma rate of exposure for youth in foster care was double that of the general public and very similar to that of urban young adults and yet the rate of PTSD was higher in foster care youth, 18.8% compared to 8.8% of trauma exposed urban young adults (Salazar et. al. 2013 p. 550).” Traumatic experiences can cause adverse mental health condition with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) being one possible reaction, not all traumas can cause PTSD (American Psychiatric Association
The literature review examined complex trauma and sexual abuse, both DSM-V qualifying traumas of PTSD, examining racial differences in rates of the trauma with a focus on African American and whites and gender difference of sexual abuse and
Department of Health and Human Services, n.a.). As stated in the DSM-V a trauma must be specific to qualify for criteria A, because of the lack of details regarding the neglect cases complex trauma and sexual abuse were considered for the literature review. Children and adolescents may have reported multiple events and any event that was reported and substantiated would be included in the percentages listed above (Children's Bureu of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.a.). Complex trauma would include at least of the two above mentioned forms of child maltreatment (Children's Bureu of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,