Gabriel McBride, a 14-year-old Black student, struggles with trauma following an assault that occurred at his last school.  Since that incident, Kathie McBride, Gabriel's Mother, has faced challenges securing the appropriate mental health support needed for her son's healing.  Gabriel has experienced emotional outbursts, leading to repeated disciplinary actions at school and the frequent presence of law enforcement in his daily life.  In a desperate attempt to get help, Kathie turned her son into the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), hoping that Gabriel would receive the mental health interventions necessary for him to become not only a successful student but also an emotionally aware son.  

Unfortunately, the system is currently failing Kathie.  Gabriel has been moved hours away from her, which adds to his emotional distress, and the current facility where he has been placed is failing to offer any transparency in terms of her son's progress.  Also, school will start, and Gabriel will not have access to any educational support recognized by an accredited school system, hindering his academic progress. 

Sadly, the cycle of poverty and mental illness that Gabriel and Kathie are experiencing is not unusual in this country.  The achievement gap for Black students with mental illness like Gabriel continues to grow because Black students are least likely to get appropriate help for mental illnesses.  These untreated Black students will be over-disciplined, more than likely jailed, or end up in cycles of poverty due to a lack of intervention.  

Kathie's asking is simple.  Please sign this petition asking Heidi Mueller, the acting director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for the following: to place Gabriel in an institution where he can receive age-appropriate care that is closer to home, to allow Gabriel to receive a free and fair education from an accredited institution, and to ensure that schools collaborate with organizations like DCFS to ensure that all students have access to mental health supports.  I urge you to sign this petition.