Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida (CCHR Florida)

Students at the Judge Rotenberg Center outside Boston, MA have extreme behavioral and emotional problems.  Apparently many of these children are a danger to themselves and others.  However, according to an ABC News report on child shock treatment, an electric shock to the skin is administered to them when they exhibit forbidden behavior.  The electrodes are worn on different parts of the body, sometimes for 24 hours, sometimes for years, so that a shock can be given at any time. (more…)

New York Times

Child’s Journey Shows Dangers of Antipsychotic Drugs

“In addition, foster care children seem to be medicated more often, prompting a Senate panel in June to ask the Government Accountability Office to Investigate such practices.”

“In the last few years, doctors’ concerns have led some states, like Florida and California, to put in place restrictions on doctors who want to prescribe antipsychotics for young children, requiring a second opinion or prior approval, especially for those on Medicaid.  Some states now report prescriptions are declining as a result.” (more…)

In order to enter kindergarten, there is a specific date set that usually requires your child to be 5 yrs old in order to start in that grade level..  Otherwise the child generally will have to wait until next year.  Well according to a recent article in USA Today called “Youngest in Class get ADHD Label,” it appears that if your child had just turned 5, then he/she is at risk for being mis-labeled with having ADHD.  The article says, “Nearly one million children may have been misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, not because they have real behavior problems, but because they’re the youngest kids in their kindergarten class, researchers say.”

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>Secretary Sheldon

Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families

http://www.youthtoday.org/view_blog.cfm?blog_id=385

Youth Today

August 06, 2010

I don’t think that anyone would argue that our children are our future.  But does everyone know what is happening to our children?  Are you an informed parent and do you know your rights?  If your child is in elementary school and your child is disruptive, can’t sit still, fidgets, can’t concentrate on his/her studies and generally acts up, it is more than likely that as a parent you will receive a phone call regarding your child.  However, the call more than likely won’t be to ask does your child have allergies, does he/she eat a lot of sugar, or a host of other questions that could be asked to detect a physical situation that would explain your child’s behavior.  Instead, the call most likely will be to tell you that your child has ADHD and needs to take a psychiatric drug such as Ritalin, Concerta or Adderall.

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Is Florida Correct To Ban Foster Kids From Drug Trials?

Vote here: http://www.pharmalot.com/2010/07/florida-tells-fda-no-children-in-psychotropic-trials/

Florida Tells FDA: No Children In Psychotropic Trials Pharmalot

 By Ed Silverman

July 19th, 2010

Gabriel Myers

Last year, a 7-year-old foster boy named Gabriel Myers committed suicide in Florida and, after reams of publicity and hand-wringing over the use of psychotropic medications in such children, a state task force recommended, among other things, that children never be allowed to participate in a clinical trial designed to evaluate new psychotropic meds or whether such drugs approved for adults should be given to children. 

The move was prompted, in part, because a Florida psychiatrist, Sohail Punjwani, who treated the boy before h (more…)

You are a parent (a mom or a dad) and you, currently, have a 5 year old child. Or possibly you have a niece, nephew or your best-friend does. The Federal Health Care Bill has been enacted, a woman comes up to your door while you are at home with your child.  This woman is not a familiar face, and she tells you that she is an employee of the Department of Children and Families and she has come to do a mental health evaluation on your child. You tell her politely that you don’t want her to come in and you don’t want her to do an evaluation She cites the Health Care Bill that passed Congress in 2010 and she walks herself into your home.

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A 6 year-old girl, was handcuffed and sent to a psychiatric facility, from school, without her parents’ consent.

A Florida Sheriff’s deputy handcuffed the 40-pound girl to “get her under control”.

Haley - front right

Haley was crying and saying that the handcuffs hurt. When her mom looked at her hands, she had one hand pulled almost all the way out, therefore, the handcuff was around her thumb and hand instead of her wrist, causing discomfort.

Haley was supposedly being disruptive in class. (more…)

Watch this short video by poet, Dominique Garay, “Changes“.  A definite must see!

Poet Dominique Garay

Excerpt:  When I was a kid…

You did not label me, so thank you… (more…)

Daytona Beach News Journal
DCF tightening medicine rules
By DEBORAH CIRCELLI
May 14, 2010

DAYTONA BEACH – A bill that would have ensured tighter controls on administering psychotropic drugs to foster children failed to pass this legislative session, but the head of the state Department of Children & Families is moving forward with rules he says will ensure children are safe.

George Sheldon - Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families

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