My name is Andrea and I am a single adoptive mom to 2 amazing boys. If you know me, you know my boys are my world and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them. Including putting our personal information out there to get help for my child.

As most of you know, my children were adopted out of the foster care system. One of my children was severely abused and neglected by his birth mother which has led him to have a disabling diagnosis of Reactive Attachment Disorder. Reactive Attachment Disorder occurs when an infants needs are not met by thier caregiver or they suffered severe abuse in the first 18 months of life, in my child's case it was both. Reactive Attachment Disorder can be a life long struggle.

Reactive Attachment Disorder or RAD, is a complex childhood psychiatric condition that can make it difficult to form lasting relationships and show affection. If left untreated, RAD can lead to lasting effects into adulthood. Children with RAD who are not treated usually end up in the juvenile justice system, prison, or long term psychiatric facilities.

Due to RAD, children like mine can be very aggressive, abusive, and have no empathy or remorse. They also have persistent social and emotional problems. My son has had 5 psychiatric hospitalizations in the last 12 months due to unsafe behaviors. Because he was adopted he has Medicaid and recieves services through Prevention and Behavioral Health. The services that they provide do NOT address the underlying issue of RAD, and in a year, my son has made no progress due to that. Medicaid will not pay for my child to recieve the specialized services that he needs and I am desperate to get him the help he needs because he is so smart, he wants to be an engineer, he has a bright future ahead of him if he can overcome RAD.

I say all of this to ask for your support to help me send my son to Teen Challenge to get the specialized help he needs. They do not take insurance, and as a single mom the tuition is way out of my budget.

Teen challenge is a network of Christian faith based corporations intended to provide rehabilitation services to people struggling with addiction and mental health. The Teen Challenge location I would like to send my son to is located in Florida and offers a residential therapeutic environment for children with mental health issues. It is a 12 month program and they have a great success rate. I have seen how it has helped other children I know with RAD.

I am not one to ask for help, but my child needs it. He needs us to show him how much he is loved and how much we care about his future. Please consider donating, even if it's just a few dollars. I would be eternally grateful for any and all help.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6