Program helps girls deal with trauma
BY MICHELLE L. START Florida Weekly Correspondent
They've witnessed serious car crashes, shootings or lost loved ones.
The Children's Advocacy Center is offering a program aimed at girls between 12 and 17 who have experienced traumatic events.
"It can be anything. Abuse, neglect, abandonment, loss, witness to a crime, a loss in the family or a bad traffic accident," said therapist Christina Reynolds. "It can be anything that has an impact and is traumatic."
A study of 119 children involved in car crashes was conducted at Bath Medical Center in England and found that nearly a third was experiencing post-traumatic stress six weeks after the event. While girls were more affected, the type of accident or the severity of it did not have a significant impact.
According to the National Center for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, between 15 to 43 percent of girls experience at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. Of those, 3 to 15 percent will develop posttraumatic stress.
Studies have shown that nearly all children who witness their parents murdered or a sexual assault develop the disorder. Additionally, of those sexually abused, 90 percent will develop it and 35 percent of those exposed to community violence will be diagnosed with the condition.
Children who are exposed to traumatic events may become fearful, anxious, depressed, have trouble with anger management and aggression, exhibit sexually inappropriate or self-destructive behavior, experience loneliness or poor self-esteem, have trouble trusting others and may abuse substances.
Girls enrolled in the 10-week program at the Children's Advocacy Center discuss a variety of topics that teach the girls coping skills, define goals, manage anger and anxiety.
"It was a pilot program," said Reynolds. "It was something we felt was lacking in our community. We saw a need for this population age range."
While the program has been in existence, Reynolds said officials with The Children's Advocacy Center are trying to strengthen it.
The girls come from self-referrals as well as from schools who refer them after they are involved in fights or are arrested.
"A lot of girls are taking coping skills from it," Reynolds said.
They meet once a week, for about 90 minutes. There are typically six to 10 participants in each group. The first week allows the girls in the group to get to know one another.
The Children's Advocacy Center works with abused children and survivors of abuse. They conduct forensic interviews, medical examinations, psychosocial family assessments, psychological evaluations, crisis intervention and referrals for other services. Other services such as therapy or parenting classes are also provided on site through our programs. Child Protection services are free of charge.
For more information about the program, call 939-2808.
