A Thorn From The Crown

A Thorn From the Crown is a true story of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. Citizens of all races and religions joined hands to open New Jersey's first group home for disenfranchised adolescent girls. A Thorn From the Crown documents the national disgrace of an inept mentality towards victim children. Erin Brochovich fought a local pollution cover-up and won fame and fortune. Yet countless volunteers exposed the polluted systems in the government's stewardship of children without a publicist. The story of Robin's Nest Inc., the non-profit, community based corporation, has to be told. People who do care, they are not aware of the ever failing foster care system, lack of residential facilities nor do they know how to make a difference. In deference to canned soup for the soul, this story gives the homemade meat and potato recipe to nourish one's soul with left-overs to serve others.

At the time I fell from my middle-class housewife's narrow ivory tower into the unconsciounable travesty of child warehousing, I earned a street-wise doctorate in governmental abuse as a foster parent, detention home, volunteer and by investigating the state home for girls. Touring the state home's off limits punishment cottage known as "coal pits" or the "dungeon" happened by deceiving staff. Penetrating the sealed detention fortress was made short of a miracle. Outsiders were unaware of the jailed isolation and use of mace. These children, the runaways, the abandoned and those waiting for placement had no advocacy. One 12 year-old girl was detained in a temporary shelter for 494 days.

During the genesis of Robin's Nest Inc., I testified before the New Jersey Assembly Child Abuse Commission Hearings and accompanied by one of the systems victims. I have been invited to testify at the state capital. The law makers were visibly shocked to learn of the government's abuse by a young lady who had been through the governmental system and myself. That five minute formal hearing transformed into an informal, timeless inquiry as to corrupt stewardship of juveniles. Subsequently, an intense investigation into children's shelters resulted in statewide reforms. The state home for girls closed its doors.

Thirty-three years hence 110 staff members of Robins' Nest Inc., works with 4.2 million dollar operating budget. A long way from a driven novice and twenty dollars donated by an unemployed carpenter. In 2001 three thousand children in seven southern counties were serviced in 20 programs ranging from in-family counseling to foster care services to a group home for adolescent girls. However, unfortunately, according to Child Welfare League of America the U.S. News & World report states that currently more than half a million children languish in foster care.

The final stage of my mission is the founder of Robins' Nest Inc. is to be the publicist testifying as o how to make a difference by being available. A percentage of my profits would be given to Robins' Nest Inc. There would be an ongoing book promotion in newsletters and through their active speakers Bureau.