I had a situation in which my son at the time 14 yrs old, was handcuffed and placed in the back sit of the police car. Upon arriving to the scene and seeing my son crying and asking me to take him home, I felt as if I was in a fiction movie, disbelief invaded me, confusion, sadness, and overall fear of the unknown. I asked the cop what had happened with my son because I had left him at church for a youth group event, and he told me that my son had left church running and someone had call 911 because they "thought a kid wanted to commit suicide". At this point I asked the cop that I knew my son, and that will have never been the issue for having ran, and that he had been going through issues of being-bullied at school and some issues with his father, but that as his mother I will take care of my son and do whatever was necessary to address what had happened. The cop's response was that he needed to take him, Baker Act him and that he needed to be evaluated. I didn't know what Baker Act was, but I keep insisting, and crying to the cop asking to please allow me to handle my son's issues and that there was no reason for him to take my son away. The cop took my son away leaving me in tears and hopeless. At that point, with all the confusion and fear I was experiencing, I searched Google for the phrase "human rights Florida" with the hope of finding someone who could help stop what had just happened to my son. I came across a page titled Citizens Commission on Human Rights Florida, which I thought described exactly what I needed. When I called the telephone number, and started talking to a very lovely and sweet lady, I believe her name was Aileen, I was convinced I had called exactly the right place. They heard me, they guided me, but overall they helped me get my son out of the evaluation facility within 24 hours. I do not know what could have happened to my son, and even to me if it wasn't for Aileen and the CCHR organization. They were the water in the dessert I needed when I felt I was about to die. They have been so instrumental in informing and educating me on the matter that my son went through that I believe organizations like this are a major player in ensuring that the rights of our kids are respected, and their mental health protected from abusers and unscrupulous people and agencies. read more