Help Me Help Them...

Hello Audience! Thank you for helping me so I can help  others. I'm Rita Badaloni Hodges, your featured Host and Founder of The all New Serenity Show, that broadcasts from Blog Talk Radio, out of Clarksville, Tennessee. I have 30 years of education in the field of chemical dependency and in the 12 step programs since 1985. My sobriety date is August 25, 2009. I have my Associates Degree in Arts Psychology. I was told after test results that I would never be capable or teachable for a Psychology Degree. I now have 84 credits towards a BS. Never is not in my vocabulary, nor is "IF" its when. I'm also in Training for my Peer Recovery Specialist Certificate. I am also educated in Mental Illness, Relationships/Marriage and Behavioral Dispositions.  My radio talk show covers a wide variety of societal issues that affect you and our loved ones daily, especially young adolescents, teens and young adults. What makes my show unique is that I speak from lived experiences. These are real issues that I've dealt with enabling me to provide coping skills utilizing real talk and real solutions.  We are now a Non ~ profit Organization and we are currently looking for Sponsorship, Board Members and donations.  I was born a blue baby, breech baby and the cord wrapped around my neck several times with the lack of oxyogen for a great length of time. The doctors told my parents I would probably live with learning and mental differences. They were right. I became the Italian familys shame child. I grew up isolated, confused and never told of my differences but knew I was different by the way I felt, acted, behaved and treated. I was socially awkward, lacked friendship and social status, and acedemic capabilities. I'm a horrible speller also, so please excuse me. I had a very low self-esteem and self-worth. I wasn't taught any self skills by my parents. In fact, they quit parenting me by the age of 13. By then I had been abused by men in unspeakable ways and my drinking and drugging started so I could escape the pains of life. My image of God was punishing according to my actions and I was screaming out for guidance, discipline and structure, but mostly love from my parents but they were lost in the casinos, and I was a lost little girl. Just like a lot of our young ones in todays society that are making poor choices and don't have the guidance for them to follow through with into a healthy direction, I have created an early onset alternative program that is a diversion to the criminal justice system and school suspension. So many of our children that are trying to escape lifes pains through substance use are lost and confused by their choices, and parents they need our guidance, structure and discipline to get them back on a healthy path in making smart choices for their future. This program can give them this opportunity. Its called "This is Your Chance" and it will educate them and parents both on the dangers of substances, genetic disposition, the disease concept, binge drinking and the consequences, school policies, drug classifications, legalities, core issues that led them to use, family practices and history, a plan of action, healthier alternatives, cool to stay in school, dating skills, job skills. These are just some of the ideas the educational program teaches in giving these young ones a brighter future instead of just throwing them into a broken system. I hope you can see how this can truly help our teens sustain instead of returning to a negative path. This program bring hope, guidance, love, it breaths life into dreams then turns them into a reality for once hopeless teens. I know I wish this was available for me when I was young. I needed help so badly and someone to reach out and tell me I was worth paying attention to. It took me until my husband died in 2009 to start believing in myself and finally put an end to allowing others to abuse me. I know if some of these kids don't get help they will grow up damaged and abuse will follow them. I will do everything in my power which includes the Almighty Power of God Himself to help these young ones find a brighter future, but I need your help too because its a NO FEE program and ran off of donations only. I hope we can raise from many small donations or anything at all is a blessing. I believe in this program. Will you believe in it with me too? Just go to www.gofundme.com/positiveenergy and give whatever blessing you can, it surly is well appreciated. God bless you and thank you for listening.