One child’s struggle for help:  A Redmond, Oregon mother’s testimony

Being a mother of an at risk youth, I understand the struggles parents face when trying to seek out help for their children. I started seeking help for my son when he was 4 years old. In my search for services all I heard was that he was too young and not bad enough for the services he needed. I couldn’t understand why my son had to be a certain age and commit crimes that disrupt the community before he could receive help. These two barriers grew more and more frustrating for me as time went on because his behavior was deteriorating and I was trying to prevent my son from becoming a juvenile delinquent. I didn’t want him out causing problems for his teachers or tearing up the town. I wanted him to have the opportunity to learn the social and behavior skills he was lacking so that he could be a contributor to the community, not a taker.

Unfortunately, I learned through my experiences that at risk youth really do have to commit either serious or numerous amounts of crimes before they will be helped. I say unfortunately because he never received the help he needed and is now caught up in the juvenile justice system.  All of my pleading for help before this happened was unanswered and my worst fears were recognized. I have had to visit my son countless times in the juvenile detention facility and have missed holidays and birthdays with him due to him being detained. Now, at 14 years old, my son will be leaving my home and going to Beaverton for a year to finally get the services he should have received in the beginning.

No parent should have to struggle the way I did to help their children live normal, happy lives. No parent should have to plead the way I did for help BEFORE their child ends up a delinquent. No parent should have to suffer the pain I have suffered to try to save their child from having a troubled life. It hurts me to know that when my son is an adult and thinks back to his childhood his memories will be filled with times of lock down, visits with me through glass and constantly being in trouble. New Priorities Family Services will offer the services that at risk youth need in order for them to learn the necessary skills to grow up to be productive members of the community. These children aren’t “bad kids’ and they deserve to have the same chance other kids have to live happy, healthy lives. I only wish these services had been around back when my son needed them.