Approximately nine children in 1,000 has been either abused or neglected in the United States. In 2013, the number of victims was estimated at 679,000 children.

“1,250 children were reported to have died from abuse or neglect. More than 27% of victims were younger than 3 years.” (Administration for Children and Families)

“More than 91% of all victims were abused or neglected by one or both of their parents.” (ACF)

The child has no choice. He or she was born into that family. “They were the parents I was given,” states a former foster child, now an adult.

Childhelp reports that there are 3 million reports of child abuse yearly, involving “more than 6 million children.”

In the United States there is help for children. Each year 3 million children are “subject to an investigated report and 6.3 million children are referred to state child protective services.” (Childhelp.org)

Childhelp.org states that this affliction within our society is a hidden epidemic or a war against our children.

ChildWelfare.gov states that physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect are recognized by all 50 states.

Child abuse and neglect cause negative effects in a child’s day-to-day living and during the remainder of his or her life, such as: developmental disabilities, socializing problems, poor school performance, depression and suicide attempts, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and adult criminality. (ChildWelfare.gov)

When children are living in unstable families, they are often removed by a state’s Department for Children and Families (DCF) for their own well-being. Though for their benefit, children do not like the separation and this traumatizes them. Yet, their removal is necessary. The separation prevents further abuse, neglect, and abandonment, and will even prevent their deaths.

Approximately four to seven children die daily due to their bad home lives, according to Childhelp.org.

After the child has been removed, he or she is placed in a protective environment, most often a foster home. Additionally, the child is assigned a Guardian ad Litem to assist him or her throughout the fostering process until a resolution occurs.

A Guardian ad Litem is a person appointed by the court to act as a friend for a child; he or she will also investigate matters regarding the child’s well-being (talk to his teacher, request school records, recommend tutoring, request medical evaluations, etc..)

In 1975, the Guardian ad Litem program went into action in Florida. Volunteers were recruited and trained. 40 years later, in 2015, there are 9,973 certified case volunteers in the state. Though a significant number, there is still a shortage. In St. Lucie County alone, 100 more volunteers are still needed--in the State of Florida, about 14,000 children reside in foster care. (AdoptUSKids)

Guardian ad Litem is still a volunteer program. Those who give their time and gas do so because they care about children, and their outcome.

Floyd McPhee was Guardian Ad Litem of the Year in 2012. A full-time employee of the State of Florida Transportation Department, he has given volunteer service for the needs of foster children for the last five years. He enjoys seeing the positive change in the children. “I love them like they’re my own blood,” Floyd adds. He checks on his children at least every two weeks. ‘Are they safe?’ ‘Do they have special needs that are being met?’ Floyd asks himself. “Every child needs emotional nurture for healthy brain development. They need love, attention, to feel wanted, and when possible, have time with their biological parents,” Mr. McPhee relates.

Floyd McPhee has supervised parent visits, written reports for the court about his observations, and when necessary, has spoken for the child in the courtroom. His joy is seeing a child reunited with their own biological family or witnessing their legal adoption.

As the hidden epidemic of child abuse in all its forms, neglect and abandonment continues, it is important to remember Floyd McPhee’s words, “There are children who need your help; they are lonely and looking for love; they need to know that they’re wanted.”

The Guardian ad Litem is in a supportive role — one that nurtures and provides hope to the child. “One thing I’ve learned,” Mr. McPhee adds, “never give up on anyone, especially a child. They can change and turn around in even a short time.”

Floyd McPhee is the father of five and grandfather of seven. He is also one of 10 children born to his parents in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. When Floyd was 10 years old, the McPhee family immigrated to the United States. Mr. McPhee grew up in Fort Pierce, Florida, graduating from Fort Pierce Central High School. He knows the city, the people, and many of the children. Floyd McPhee is also an author; he has written the first installment of a romantic fiction series--Just Friends, which takes place in his native Bahamas.

Floyd McPhee is certified by the State of Florida as a Guardian ad Litem and has spent 30 hours in training, in addition to continuing education each year. For each child he represents, he estimates that he spends seven to eight hours a month as the eyes and ears on the ground for the Department of Children and Families.

It is people like Floyd McPhee who take the time to change a life, which breaks the cycle of abuse. Each and every child is an important part of the United States. These children are a part of the fabric of American culture; their future is also our future. Floyd McPhee is “For the Child.” As Americans, we must all be “For the Child.”

HAVE A HERO TIP? Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon: kfjadon@gmail.com

A mental illness survivor, Carol Koji has endured electric shock treatment, been Baker-Acted, divorced, heard voices, and has had arrests.

In 1978, Carol Koji was one of the first people Baker-Acted in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At the time she had just relocated to the state from Long Island with her husband and three young sons. A physician had misdiagnosed her, prescribed valium instead of a proper medication, and sent her home. It wasn’t until 2007 that a psychiatrist rightly diagnosed Carol as bi-polar with schizoaffective disorder.

A mental illness survivor at age 64, Carol has been Baker-Acted 16 times, attempted suicide, had electric shock treatment (1980s) and been twice arrested on misdemeanors. She has heard voices, had paranoia, been divorced, and had her children taken away from her. Due to an overdosing of medication, she lost all of her teeth after developing gum disease. She states that she, “lost her mind.” Yet, Carol persevered and raised her sons as a single mother without child support.

Many of these problems could have been adverted if Carol had received proper treatment at the beginning of her illness.After her brief stay at Hollywood Pavilion, her husband moved the family back home to New York. Carol received no follow up care and ended up in a mental health ward again. Long-term continued care as an outpatient with a counselor or therapist and case manager are keys to recovery and stability. With cognitive therapy, the patient can begin to recognize wrong patterns of thinking, alter them, and change her lifestyle. She will also learn to identify her triggers and avoid them. For Carol, this means avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and compliancy of medication. When Carol remained on her medication, she did well. Medication and therapy work together.

One of the difficulties of mental illness is the prescribing of the correct medication for the individual. What works for one person may not work for another. In women with mental illness, the onset of perimenopause will cause hormone changes, affecting brain chemistry as well.

The person with a mental illness often has no idea of his or her state of mind because it is so subjective, until he or she arrives at a hospital for help. This is a shock. Acceptance of the situation is key.In 2013 after several national gun-violence incidents, President Obama called for national Mental Health First Aid training. (National Council for Behavioral Health)

“The Mental Health First Aid Act of 2013 (S. 153/H.R. 274) authorizes $20 million in grants to fund Mental Health First Aid training programs around the country. Participants would be trained in:

Recognizing the symptoms of common mental illnesses and addiction disorders.

De-escalating crisis situations safely.

Initiating timely referral to mental health and substance abuse resources available in the community.”

Training should include police officers, emergency rescue personnel, teachers and any other necessary individuals.

Signs of immediate attention being needed include: thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, not eating, not sleeping, paranoia, rampages, and hearing voices. Carol Koji adds, “being afraid in the house alone, giving your things away, not answering the phone at all, listening to the same song over and over, and throwing important items away.”

Today Carol Koji is the mother of three grown sons and five grandchildren, all free of any signs of mental illness.

Carol is able to see the history of mental illness in her own life for 36 years. Genetic factors played a role, as did stress. When asked what advice she would give to someone else at the beginning of mental illness, Carol states this:·

Don’t fight it, and don’t blame others.
To survive, I learned that I had to take medication.
Insist on the right help. Get therapy and medication. You need to get to the bottom of the problem.
Don’t say, “I can’t work.” Volunteer or work in some way.
Go to church.
Love your children and never give up on them.

Carol also has a determined attitude to continue on. She has held a job and been a volunteer at Lyngate Park and the Port St. Lucie Library. She also pays her own rent, writes poetry and attends St. Lucie Catholic Church. Her faith was very much needed in recovery. During Carol’s last 21 years, she has received services from New Horizons, located in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Serving four counties and the Treasure Coast area for 55 years, the facility cares for 11,400 patients yearly. Many patients are indigent (87%), yet receive psychiatric, primary and medicinal care. With a shortage of beds for children nationwide, New Horizons is one of the few to offer 20 beds in their children’s unit. The primary focus is on the patient with family counseling included, giving “wrap around care” which addresses the cause of the illness. Carol Koji states, “New Horizons saved my life.”

New Horizons recognizes the need for early intervention and signed on to train St. Lucie County teachers in Mental Health First Aid. They are one of the few organizations advocating this new President-endorsed program.

Each year, one in four adults, approximately 61.5 million Americans, experiences mental illness. One in 17 or 13.6 million live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. Yet, only 40% of adults and 50% of youth (8-15) received mental health services. (NAMI)

Lack of help is due to ignorance, denial and illegitimate social stigma.

Carol Koji is a hometown hero because she has overcome what few do, and she has openly told her story so that others might have hope, see the early signs and receive help. “There is no shame,” she ends.

HAVE A HERO TIP? Hometown Heroes are in every town and city. They are regular people who have made a positive difference in their community, impacting others for the better. Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon kfjadon@gmail.com or find her online at kellyjadon.com.

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