"Behavioral health services could have helped my mother when she was told by the court that she couldn't go to our home during a 30-day reunification trial with our father. My mother stopped by our house to leave money and food, helping my father cover bills for all 7 of us. She only spoke Spanish and didn't fully understand the court orders; she knew my father didn't have other supports and wanted to make sure we were ok. No one told her that her decision could impact our family for the rest of our lives or offered to help her figure out how to provide support while following court orders. If someone had, I believe my family's story would be different. My four younger siblings wouldn't have been adopted right after this happened."
Family Voices United member, Jaqueline, shares her thoughts on mental health supports and how to better support children, youth, and families.