And we all said, “Save the children!”
He was born to a mother
Who didn’t want him
And to a faceless father
And we all said, “Save the children!”
She was moved
From home to home
Her mother wanted a chance
But couldn’t care for her
And we all said, “Save the children!”
He has no one
To depend upon
Or defend him
No one to be his friend
To save him
He barely remembers
Each new address
Or each in a series
Of new schools
And we all said, “Save the children!”
She was beaten and bruised
Her self-esteem zero
That she awakened
Each morning
Was a miracle
And a torture
And we all said, “Save the children
He acted out
In every home
And in each school
As if to say
How far can I push you
Before you
Abandon me too
And we all said, “Save the children!”
Once there was a boy
About to be adopted
But he was hospitalized
For no apparent reason
And the adoptive parents
Got scared and left
And we all said, “Save the children!”
Once upon a time
There were many
Throwaway children
And we all asked
Are we saving our children
—–
From 1981 to 2006, I worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District as a psychologist and administrator of District Psychological Services. As an LMFT, I trained medical personnel in disaster preparedness via a FEMA grant awarded to Harbor UCLA Hospital and provided pro-bono bereavement counseling to those whose family members were dying of various forms of cancer and other disorders. Additionally, I earned a certificate in gerontology. Currently, I facilitate obtaining mental health services for the aged and others who need mental health or educational support services. I provide consulting services with regard to mental health needs/referrals and the education of regular education students and those with special needs. I have a great deal of experience as a presenter specific to at risk youth, including, but not limited to, suicide prevention, intervention and postvention (i.e., what services to provide after a completed suicide). In addition to having obtained a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist, I have Master’s degrees in Reading/Special Education and School Psychology and obtained a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. I have written poetry most of my life.
