I hate to say that anything good could of come from the tragedy at VA Tech, but it did open up dialog at a political level and now we have govenor Kaines ear. We are meeting this monday for a rally in Richmond and will be meeting our representation. It's about time, anyone who lives in VA and has had a long term involvement with the community services knows how the last several years have gone downhill. Mental health & rehabilitation programs have been hit with budgetary cuts over & over & we've seen service after service dissapear. Meanwhile, people in desperate need of help have been denied proper treatment because an underfunded & over worked system couldn't find the time or money. Read more on the rally here http://www.racsb.state.va.us/Alerts/2008/2008_1_21Rally.html and thank you for taking the time to give it your thought;^]

Well, todays the day. Anybody near the area please feel free to join us;^]

Shoot Turtle, wish I had seen this before, I can't make it today. Having been a foster parent to highly troubled kids, I've lived the problem. Hoping this rally catches some attention and makes some waves!

It's been so unneverving all the budget cuts, western state can't even take clients anymore that aren't considered "chronic" care. In 2002, when I was violated on probation for my drug use, the recomendation was the day reporting center, the judges response was "isn't that about to be shut down?".

Hehe, I hope we make some waves too, it helps to have Kaine on our side tho..lol. Don't fret it, we've all got lives to live;^]

Well, I'm there in spirit anyway! I had 2 kids who were "cutters" but since they actually weren't suicidal, we couldn't get them in to see anyone. When they abused my son, the only recourse was removing them and putting them into another home as there wasn't any place else and no therapists available. Both were such good kids, one I wanted to adopt, but the state wouldn't allow it until we could get them help and we couldn't get them help because the state was cutting services. Gotta love it. He ended up in a group home, then I don't know where he went from there. He's almost 18 now, then he'll be out on the streets. And not a damn thing I can do about it.

Yup, that about sums up VA's system. I used to be a cutter myself, luckily a counsler at the CSB taught me the crushed ice trick. Everytime I got the urge to cut I'd squeeze a bag of crushed ice, didn't think it'd work at first but I've been over 10 years without cutting because of it. I truely hope he finds his way, when all else fails we can always pray, hopefuly after today we'll have the funding too;^]

If you can find your way, it gives me hope he will too.