Joan Ulsher

Joan Ulsher is an American-based writer from Texas, award-winning child advocate, and retired U.S. Army Major. As a former foster care youth and abuse survivor, she chronicled her journey from childhood trauma to child advocacy in her memoir, Misplaced Childhood: A True Story of Resiliency and Child Advocacy.

The foster care crisis is not unique to the United States. With over 391,000 children in foster care in America, Joan’s wish is that one day, every child in foster care will have a volunteer CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) or GAL (Guardian ad litem) advocate representing their “best interests” in court because she never had an advocate when she needed one as a teen in foster care.

Joan began her volunteer CASA advocacy in 2018. She has advocated for 24 children and continues taking new cases often.

By sharing Misplaced Childhood, Joan seeks to empower youth with a past like hers to find resiliency and hope. She also seeks to inspire all people worldwide with a heart for hurting children trapped in the child welfare system or foster care, to answer the “call to action” and join the ranks of the volunteer CASA/GAL movement nationwide or consider other ways to serve. Kids are the future of our communities, and they are in crisis now.

Joan is also a do-it-yourself or “DIY” enthusiast and creates custom-painted themed furniture for children leaving foster care and entering their forever families during her leisure time.

Joan donates author profits or royalties to her local Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA program, because she is passionate about their mission of serving abused and neglected children in foster care. To learn more about opportunities to serve children in foster care or contact Joan directly, visit the author’s website at: www.joanulsher.com