Posts By: Rise

Out of Our League- We placed our son in the system to get him the treatment he needs.

When I was 10 years old, my mentally ill mother walked out on me and my four siblings. As I got older, I discovered that I had a unique gift:identification. Because I had suffered abandonment and childhood unrest, I found that I was able to identify with the insecurities of emotionally wounded children.

My husband grew up in a stable, close-knit family. His family set the example of how things should be while … Read More

Where the Heart Is- An NYC initiative will keep teens convicted of crimes close to home

New York City teens convicted of crimes have usually been sent to facilities upstate, far from their families. Now an initiative called Closeto Home will change that—these teens will receive services at home or go to city residences where they can stay more connected to their families and communities. Reverend Emma Jordan-Simpson, executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund of New York and chair of the Office of Children and Families Brooklyn for … Read More

Families Rally to Raise the Age- Advocates press NY State to stop charging teens under 18 as adults.

At community forums organized by the New York Center for Juvenile Justice, parents are turning out to talk about a pressing issue affecting teenagers and their families: In New York, 16 and 17 year olds arecharged as adults for all crimes. Most other states set the “age of criminal responsibility” at 18; only New York and North Carolina set it at 16.

Michael Corriero, executive director of the New York Center for … Read More

No Safe Haven- Could we find treatment for my grandson without placing him in foster care?

On the morning of June 14, 2009, my daughter, grandson and I headed north from our small town in Nebraska on the 90 mile trip to theBehavioral Health Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. My grandson, Nathan, had been acting extremely aggressive for 36 hours. He threw chairs across the room, punched the computer screen, and kicked and hit family members.

Nathan, who has been diagnosed with Bipolar, ADD and ODD, and also has … Read More

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