HELP AND QUESTIONS

[Guest guest]

I think I've given each group an intro. I have just began the process of

starting a Non-Profit Organization this morning and have ran into a snag and

need your help. Let me first explain what my idea is for the Organization for

those of you who don't know. My best friend who is in poverty with 3 kids, 6 yr

old Step Son (ADHD and possibly bipolar), 4 yr old Son (Autism) 2 yr old

daughter live, in my opinion in an unsafe enviroment. Her husband does work but

makes very little and they are getting a disability check for their Son with

Autism. They still live poorly. They can't afford to make the home Autism proof,

my friend has to stay by him every second, except when he's in school for 4

hours. I've been examining why.. Both parents suffering from depression, not

having much knowledge in managing money..etc. Also the tasks of caring for her

children are HUGE which you all can relate to more then I can. I say what seems

like a hill to me, is a mountain to her.. My Organization will focus on keeping

the Needy family with disabled children strong, happy and together. I need to

narrow it down to what disablities, such as Autism, ADD, ADHD etc. Also what

exactly do I want funding to go towards. I realize that there are Organizations

now who are doing simular goals. The Government wants to solve these problems by

separating the families. My friend was reported to family services before. Her

Son ran off, there was 6 adults outside, my friend had put her son in a play

pen, turned to help her husband start a lawn mower and when she turned around he

was gone. I can't even imagine the fear. They heard brakes squeal and a car horn

blowing, her son was almost hit by a car. My friends mother in law called child

protection on her (NICE WOMAN!) because she felt she was an unfit mother. Family

services were able to understand after my friend explained his behavior. Then

family services began focusing on the condition of her home. It was out of order

and a mess. They told her she had a week to clean the house or she would lose

her kids. What upset me is, why didn't they offer some organizing skills? Offer

to get her some storage containers (She has no closets in her home) her bathroom

is 4X5 with no sink, she can't fit a table in the kitchen because it's too

small. I'm always trying to fix the problem, you see my friend cleaned her house

so when the case worker came back, she was pleased. She made several more visits

before closing the case. What my friend did was cleaned the house but as soon as

the case worker left, it went back to being cluttered again, the case worker

failed to do her job in my opinion because all my friend learned from it was to

clean the house but the task of keeping it clean is too difficult for her simply

because she needs some skills to organize, she's depressed and seems to be

losing her desire to do things. She has always been some what depressed, and her

husband suffers too. Both trying so hard (To their best ability) to take care of

her family, dealing with the behavior problems, dealing with outsiders who don't

take her serious at all (I WAS ONCE GUILTY OF THAT)

Here's how you can help me.. If you can answer these questions and e-mail me

privately machellel@... I can compile a list. I won't have no need to

use your names so please feel safe in providing the information..

1) Are you suffering from depression? If so do you feel that government,

organizations .etc have helped you in dealing with it or do you feel more in

home counseling needs to be available?

2) What Disability are you dealing with besides Autism that you feel needs more

attention and funding?

3) Do you feel having in-home training such as parenting skills, organizing

...etc would be more helpful than going to a work shop?

4) Do you feel more funding needs to be available to help educate and make

people more aware of Autism and simular disabilities?

5) Do you agree there Should be more funding for family units?

6) What about funding a special GFCF food bank in each community?

7) What other issues need to be addressed? List as many as you can think of.

8) Any ideas for a name?

I hope I'm not intruding here...

Thank you

Machelle

St ph Mo.