A Gap In The System

For the first part of this post, read “91 Long-Term Beds in the State, 91 Long-Term Beds in the State, Fill Them Up, Pass Kids Around, 91 Long-Term Beds in the State“. The start our journey can be found at “Through the Looking Glass“. I’m still working on filling in the gaps between the two posts.

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In the wee hours of an early November morning in 2006, Children’s Hospital refused to take my child any more, after he was brought in by the police and ambulance, stating that he just seemed to want to go back to the hospital. I had the option of just taking him home or getting the police back to press charges. It was an insane hour of the morning and we were all exhausted. My husband and I took him home.

A few days later, we had to call 911 again, due to J. assaulting both my husband and me. When I told the police that my son would not be accepted at Children’s, it was determined that the only option left was King County Juvenile Detention, where he was held on two charges of Assault in the Fourth Degree, Domestic Violence. It had been determined that he was a danger to us and to the community at large, so he couldn’t leave before all his hearings were up. He was finally allowed to leave just before Thanksgiving, due to the extra work of his lawyer and the kindness of a judge.

The next week he was brought in and agreed to a deferred sentence. He is on one year’s probation, had his right to be firearms removed (a requirement of domestic violence situations), and was assessed a financial penalty. If he completes all requirements, there will be no conviction on his record.

My son is thirteen years old. If he fails at this deferred sentence, that conviction will be on his record until he’s at least 18.

Another few days later, we were back calling 911. Fortunately, that time, a police officer more familiar with the mental health system was present. He suggested that J. be taken to Harborview Medical Center, where they could at least probably get a 3 day Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) order and give us a break. I wish I knew that officer’s name, so that I could thank him.

That is what finally started us on the path to being able to get J. the help that he needed. That 3 day order turned into a 14 day one, then a full 180 day order, the longest that you can get. J. knew that he was ill and agreed to each order, signing off on them so that it was not disputed in court.

As mentioned in my previous post , a six month order automatically moves a kid to the upper reaches of the waiting list for CLIP. My son was held in an institution for two months before a placement was found for him.

Now, after a two year struggle, my son is finally where he can actually get deep and dedicated help. He is in intensive therapy and treatment, with care for all of his medical and mental issues.

The trip here has been the most painful thing that I have ever experienced, ripping me, my husband, and our family into pieces repeatedly. I am documenting that journey, so that other parents know that they are not alone. so that those on the outside can see a taste of what it’s like, and so that those involved in the system can see how the system feels from a consumer/parent viewpoint.

There will be much more to come.