The Crisis in our Courts
Our family court systems are making life-altering decisions about children without understanding the profound psychological impact of their rulings.
Key Statistics: When Family Courts Fail to Assess Children's Mental Health
The Assessment Gap in Family Courts
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Current State of Mental Health Assessment
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Only 35+ courts nationwide have undergone trauma assessments out of thousands of family courts (NCJFCJ, 2019)
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61% of children in court systems have experienced at least one form of violence, yet most courts lack systematic trauma screening (NCJFCJ, 2009)
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Courts make decisions in a vacuum without mental health professional input in the majority of custody cases
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Mental Health Consequences When Assessment Is Missing
Immediate Impact on Children
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Children in high-conflict court cases show 1.5 to 2 times increased risk for:
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Academic difficulties and school problems
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Disruptive behaviors and conduct disorders
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Depression and anxiety symptoms
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Social relationship problems (PMC, 2018)
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Trauma Symptoms in Court-Involved Children
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High levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) develop in children from high-conflict family court cases (Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 2021)
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25% of children will experience at least one traumatic event by age 16, yet family courts rarely assess for trauma history (NCTSN, 2018)
Long-term Mental Health Outcomes
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System-induced trauma creates lasting psychological damage that could be prevented with proper assessment
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Children subjected to court decisions without mental health evaluation show:
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Higher rates of substance abuse in adolescence
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Increased risky sexual behaviors
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Greater likelihood of their own relationship instability as adults
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Elevated risk for mental health disorders throughout life
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The Cost of Not Assessing
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$748 billion annually in healthcare costs related to childhood trauma that proper court assessment could help prevent (CDC, 2025)
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Up to 500,000 families per year affected by high-conflict court cases where children's mental health goes unassessed (Court Statistics Project, 2020)
What Happens Without Professional Mental Health Input
Decision-Making Without Critical Information
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Judges make life-altering custody decisions without understanding:
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Children's existing trauma history
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Psychological impact of proposed arrangements
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Signs of developing mental health problems
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Risk factors for future psychological harm
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Preventable Harm
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Every court decision made without psychological insight potentially alters a child's life trajectory forever
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Mental health problems that develop from poor court decisions often require extensive treatment that could have been prevented
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"System-induced trauma" - psychological damage directly caused by court processes and decisions made without mental health consideration
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Sources:
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National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. (2019). Trauma-informed Courts.
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PMC. (2018). Parental divorce or separation and children's mental health.
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Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma. (2021). Parental Conflicts and Posttraumatic Stress of Children in High-Conflict Divorce Families.
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National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2018). School Personnel Resources.
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CDC. (2025). About Adverse Childhood Experiences.
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Court Statistics Project. (2020). National Center for State Courts annual case filings data.
Courts, untrained in the nuances of family dynamics and childhood trauma make decisions in a vacuum, overlooking the profound psychological impact these disputes have on children.
The Hidden Damage
According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, children subjected to high-conflict parenting environments develop trauma-related symptoms at alarming rates. These symptoms create lasting psychological wounds, including:
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Anxiety disorders that follow children into adulthood
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Depression stemming from unstable family situations
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Behavioral disorders that affect school and social relationships
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Long-term psychological issues that could have been prevented
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These are not inevitable outcomes. They are the direct result of a system that fails to consider the mental health needs of the children it's supposed to protect.
Our Solution
We demand comprehensive reform that puts children's psychological well-being at the center of family court decisions. It's time we move toward a trauma-informed family court system built around the following four pillars:
1
MANDATORY TRAINING
Require all family court judges to undergo comprehensive trauma-informed training to understand the psychological impact of their decisions on children.
2
EXPERT ASSESSMENT
Mandate that licensed mental health professionals assess children before any decisions that alter parenting arrangements are made.
3
EVIDENCE-BASED DECISIONS
Ensure all rulings are backed by scientific evidence and expert psychological analysis, not just legal precedent.
4
HOLISTIC APPROACH
Create a more equitable judicial process that considers the full impact of family dynamics on child development.
The Impact of Change
When family courts embrace trauma-informed practices, we create a future where:
CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED
Court decisions prioritize psychological safety and long-term well-being over convenience.
FAMILIES CAN HEAL
Evidence-based approaches help families navigate conflict more constructively.
JUSTICE SERVES
Legal decisions are informed by mental health expertise and scientific understanding.
SCIENCE GUIDES
Professional psychological assessment becomes standard practice, not an afterthought.
Every child deserves the chance for a stable and secure future, unmarred by preventable trauma stemming from legal ignorance.
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This isn't just about legal reform—it's about moral responsibility. We have the knowledge, the expertise, and the tools to do better. What we need now is the will to act.
Join us in demanding that Minnesota lead the way in protecting children through trauma-informed family court practices.