As more and more churches become involved in adoption ministry and pursue initiatives to care for children and teens in the foster care system, they’ll need to understand the complex manifestations of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to most effectively meet the needs of the kids they seek to serve and the families committed to adoption and foster care ministry. We’re fortunate Jolene Philo has agreed to a return appearance for Inclusion Fusion 2012 to educate us about PTSD…her topic for Inclusion Fusion 2012 is It’s Not Just for Soldiers Anymore: PTSD & Kids with Special Needs.

Jolene is the author of two books for parents of children with special needs, A Different Dream for My Child and Different Dream Parenting. She is the parent of a child with special needs who developed PTSD due to early, frequent and invasive medical treatment. She also taught traumatized students at a correctional facility and collaborated with special education teachers to mainstream traumatized children in her classroom during public school teaching career. She’s conducted extensive interviews with trauma experts and is currently working on a book about PTSD in children. More information about PTSD and kids can be found at her website, http://www.DifferentDream.com.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder most commonly associated with combat veterans that also affects children with special needs. Jolene will discuss six common myths and misconceptions about PTSD in children.

For a sample of Jolene’s teaching, here’s her presentation from last year’s Inclusion Fusion (click here for handouts) Ten Ways Churches Can Support Parents of Kids With Special Needs…

Join Jolene and over 30 leaders from children’s, family, youth and disability ministry serving as faculty for Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry’s second annual Special Needs Ministry Web Summit. Inclusion Fusion is made available FREE OF CHARGE to pastors, church staff, volunteers and families everywhere from November 12th-16th, 2012. For an up to date list of speakers, topics, links to speaker blogs and a link for free registration, click here.