First, a morsel of good news, via Jezebel:
Shanesha Taylor, the Phoenix mother who left her two young children alone in her car when she attended a job interview in Scottsdale, was granted custody of her children following a hearing Thursday morning in a Maricopa County courtroom…
“I finally breathed,” Taylor said after the 20-minute hearing. “I don’t think I breathed for three days before that.”…
“She’s been doing everything right,” Benjamin Taylor said. “She’s been doing everything the judge told her to do and she’s a veteran of the United States Air Force.”…
News of Taylor’s arrest and her emotional booking photo sparked a national discussion about poverty and access to public assistance. In two months, more than $114,775 was donated through a charity fundraising website to assist with Taylor’s legal fees and other expenses.
Taylor said she is still looking for a job and hopes to work in the service industry. “I like working with people and helping them get what they need,” Taylor said…
Her kids have been staying with family. There’s video at the link, but it’s on autoplay.
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And a bleg from loyal commentor Bella Q:
Thursday is an important day for mental health activism, and I’m wondering if you’d consider a post on #ACT4MENTAL HEALTH – NAMI’s national day of action for talking about the issue. I’ve attached the NAMI flyer about it. The “donate” link is to NAMI Warren County, which is the chapter I direct until January 2015 when it will be officially absorbed by the larger Cincinnati (Hamilton County) affiliate. Several Juicers made (greatly appreciated) donations to our 2014 walk. Due to the acquisition, we will not have a walk this, but rather solicit small donors for this and Mental Illness Awareness Week in October.
NAMI’s National Day of Action is a national campaign in which we are asking supporters all across the country to stand up for the issues that are important to us. We are asking Congress to take action, pass legislation and support individuals living with mental illness and their families and we need your help.
No one is more effective at delivering this message to the U.S. Congress than those they are elected to serve. Join with thousands of others on September 4th, to bring national attention to the need for comprehensive mental health legislation. Mental illness affects everyone and it’s time that we spoke up.
Reach out to your member of Congress by calling, emailing or tweeting and tell them it is time to make mental health a priority in America. Check out all of the ways you can join the conversation.
Learn more about NAMI and #Act4MentalHealth <- at these links. Tweet
Share your own tweet or use one that we came up with to tell your member of Congress to take action. Don’t forget to use the #Act4MentalHealth twitter tag and follow @NAMICommunicate.Call
Call your member of Congress and State Representative and tell them why you want them to pass mental health legislation.Social Media
Show your support and raise awareness for mental health on your personal social media pages by changing your profile picture or cover photo.Support the Cause
Make a donation to NAMI and support our efforts to raise awareness and fight stigma.