Raising awareness about Youth Mental Health

Why Us Kids?

Why Us Kids?

Mission Statement

My mission is to raise awareness about the youth mental health crisis and to empower kids and young adults to speak out about their traumas. The current goals of our organization include advocacy for mental health and trauma counselors in an elementary school setting.

We deserve a great chance to grow up be healthy and productive adults.

About…

My name is Gracie Parker...

I am 10 years old and live in Otto, NC, the very rural WNC mountains. I am a 5th grade student at South Macon Elementary in Macon County.

I am reaching out to you all today with a critical, deeply personal, message about the urgent need for youth mental health help and bullying for us kids.  We children are hurting and we need your help!!!

I lost my mom to drugs when I was only 6 months old and my dad isn’t part of my life because of drugs and jail.

My grandparents took me out of a life threatening situation before my mom died and they are raising me, and I’m very lucky to have them, I love them.

But, I wish I could be normal and live with my mom and dad, I never even got to know my mom! I miss her so, so much. For a long time, I thought I was the only one struggling with my traumas alone.

#1

So, I decided to...

take a stand and speak up about what we children are going through. I am the voice for kids like me, some can’t or won’t  or are not able to speak out about our urgent need for youth mental health accessible to all of us.

I urge you to pass a budget that includes adequate funding specifically for trauma counselors in all of our schools NOW, starting at an elementary school level! 

Right now you are the ones that can help to save us.

I would love to speak with you all in more detail and in person, just let me know when.

Thank you so much for your time and attention, please let me know if you have any questions.

Gracie Parker

Most Recently,

in September 2023, Gracie had an opportunity to meet with U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards in Washington, D.C., where she addressed a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives about the current crisis in youth mental health and bullying.

In September 2023, Gracie spoke in front of 60+ congressmen at the Republican Study Committee in the House of Representatives about the urgency of youth mental health and bullying and the urgent need for funding required to get kids the help they need NOW.
 
She also had individual meetings with Congressman Chuck Edwards and Congressman Greg Murphy, both Representatives of NC.
 
She also was a speaker at a R.A.P.P. (Relatives Against Perdue Pharma) Rally in front of the DOJ representing the children left behind cause of the opioid crisis – the forgotten victims.
She was also scheduled to speak again at the second Annual Trail of Truth at Union Square behind the Capitol.

About Me

My grandparents, who I call Oma and Opa...

got emergency custody of me two weeks before my mom died because my life was in danger living with my parents.  They got the permanent full custody of me a few months later and then adopted me when I was three years old.

As long as I can remember, I asked about my mom and dad and WHY I was not living with them.  My loving grandparents always answered all my questions honestly and age appropriately.  They have made every effort for my dad to be part of my life, but…because he was not around most of the time, we have nothing in common or to talk about.

Because of the traumas I experienced in my life, thinking I was the only one dealing with my traumas, I started sharing some of it with my friends and classmates.  That’s when I realized that I was not alone and there were many other kids like me who needed help!

So, at the end of 3rd grade, after trauma counselors lost their jobs because of the lack of funding in my school and some others (all will lose the trauma counselors by the end of 2024 school year), I decided to speak out about the need for Us Kids to have access in school to trauma counselors.  Without trauma counselors, kids like me are left without a safe place and someone to talk to about our feelings and traumas, especially in elementary schools.

I am lucky my grandparents continue to take me to see the therapist outside of school, but too many kids don’t have that option.

Gracie Parker

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