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Brooke & Jaden Harris: Their Name is Today.
Already a mother of two, Brooke Harris* knew the unborn child she carried was different. He nearly constantly twisted and turned, punched and kicked. That restlessness continued outside the womb. Even in his sleep he rolled back and forth, and as soon as he could walk, he would run from one end of his crib to the other, hitting himself on the railings. Brooke would later find out Jaden had a sleeping disorder and as a result neither Jaden nor Brooke were getting any rest.
 As her boy, Jaden*, grew, so did the rage. Almost daily, he would damage property and himself. He threatened to hurt others, too. When each episode passed, Jaden had no recollection, only sorrow, for what he had done. Brooke could only hold her crying Jaden and rock him and reassure him that things would be okay.
Brooke began seeking help for Jaden when he was still a preschooler, constantly running into experts with no answers. “I felt very alone,” says Brooke. “It’s a lonely, dark path to be on because you can’t see a future, and you just keep looking and hoping and praying. It’s the most terrible place to be when you can’t find help.” When she looked for help, Brooke was labeled an unfit parent and lost Jaden to the state for 18 months. Brooke fought through this time to be reunited with Jaden and was successful. It was apparent even the child welfare professionals did not understand Jaden.
When Jaden was finally diagnosed, Brooke saw more clearly what she was up against. Jaden was suffering with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), ADD (attention deficit disorder), anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. She worried about his future. She worried what would happen to him when she passed, stating “the world does not understand what it’s like to be Jaden.”
Brooke & Jaden Harris: Their Name is Today.
Already a mother of two, Brooke Harris* knew the unborn child she carried was different. He nearly constantly twisted and turned, punched and kicked. That restlessness continued outside the womb. Even in his sleep he rolled back and forth, and as soon as he could walk, he would run from one end of his crib to the other, hitting himself on the railings. Brooke would later find out Jaden had a sleeping disorder and as a result neither Jaden nor Brooke were getting any rest.
As her boy, Jaden*, grew, so did the rage. Almost daily, he would damage property and himself. He threatened to hurt others, too. When each episode passed, Jaden had no recollection, only sorrow, for what he had done. Brooke could only hold her crying Jaden and rock him and reassure him that things would be okay.
Brooke began seeking help for Jaden when he was still a preschooler, constantly running into experts with no answers. “I felt very alone,” says Brooke. “It’s a lonely, dark path to be on because you can’t see a future, and you just keep looking and hoping and praying. It’s the most terrible place to be when you can’t find help.” When she looked for help, Brooke was labeled an unfit parent and lost Jaden to the state for 18 months. Brooke fought through this time to be reunited with Jaden and was successful. It was apparent even the child welfare professionals did not understand Jaden.
When Jaden was finally diagnosed, Brooke saw more clearly what she was up against. Jaden was suffering with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), ADD (attention deficit disorder), anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. She worried about his future. She worried what would happen to him when she passed, stating “the world does not understand what it’s like to be Jaden.”
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After receiving treatment in a residential setting, Jaden returned home, and Brooke set out to find a school that could handle her troubled boy. She found Family & Children’s Center’s midlevel day treatment program, an alternative education program that includes both special education and therapeutic services. With Jaden’s history, even the treatment staff at Family and Children’s Center were skeptical at first of accepting Jaden into treatment. Once treatment began, Jaden continued to struggle. He accrued several assault and destruction of private property charges. By the time Jaden was 12, he had four felony charges on his record. He wasn’t even a teen, but he was scheduled to be on probation until he was 21. At the height of Jaden’s problems and without provocation, he flew into an angry fit and attacked his mother, hitting her so hard, he broke her rib.
After receiving treatment in a residential setting, Jaden returned home, and Brooke set out to find a school that could handle her troubled boy. She found Family & Children’s Center’s midlevel day treatment program, an alternative education program that includes both special education and therapeutic services. With Jaden’s history, even the treatment staff at Family and Children’s Center were skeptical at first of accepting Jaden into treatment. Once treatment began, Jaden continued to struggle. He accrued several assault and destruction of private property charges. By the time Jaden was 12, he had four felony charges on his record. He wasn’t even a teen, but he was scheduled to be on probation until he was 21. At the height of Jaden’s problems and without provocation, he flew into an angry fit and attacked his mother, hitting her so hard, he broke her rib.
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"Family & Children's Center stepped in when the rest of the world stepped out."
~ Brooke
"Family & Children's Center stepped in when the rest of the world stepped out."
~ Brooke
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“Family & Children’s Center gave it a try, even though he still had all his problems,” says Brooke. “The world is always saying goodbye to kids like Jaden. They give up and don’t want to deal with them before they even understand what it’s like to be them. Family & Children’s Center stepped in when the rest of the world stepped out.”
While Jaden continued to have behavioral and emotional difficulties, Brooke remained diligent. While in the midlevel day treatment program, Jaden learned coping skills and ways to recognize feelings and control emotions. As medications were prescribed and adjusted, Jaden grew eager to learn and fervent to overcome his disabilities. Jaden had reached a point where he now had the ability and desire to control himself, which is exactly what he began to do both at school and at home. Brooke worked closely with treatment staff and actively practiced skills at home.
“Family & Children’s Center gave it a try, even though he still had all his problems,” says Brooke. “The world is always saying goodbye to kids like Jaden. They give up and don’t want to deal with them before they even understand what it’s like to be them. Family & Children’s Center stepped in when the rest of the world stepped out.”
While Jaden continued to have behavioral and emotional difficulties, Brooke remained diligent. While in the midlevel day treatment program, Jaden learned coping skills and ways to recognize feelings and control emotions. As medications were prescribed and adjusted, Jaden grew eager to learn and fervent to overcome his disabilities. Jaden had reached a point where he now had the ability and desire to control himself, which is exactly what he began to do both at school and at home. Brooke worked closely with treatment staff and actively practiced skills at home.
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“Now Jaden sees himself like every other kid,” says Brooke.
“Now Jaden sees himself like every other kid,” says Brooke.
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Eventually Jaden learned how to follow rules. He began doing chores before school. He began caring about other people and making friends. And he started earning A’s in school, even achieving A honor roll. The changes Jaden has made during his time with Family & Children’s Center have been so dramatic. Because of Jaden’s hard work he is scheduled to end probation soon.
Eventually Jaden learned how to follow rules. He began doing chores before school. He began caring about other people and making friends. And he started earning A’s in school, even achieving A honor roll. The changes Jaden has made during his time with Family & Children’s Center have been so dramatic. Because of Jaden’s hard work he is scheduled to end probation soon.
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 “Now Jaden sees himself like every other kid,” says Brooke. “I see that Jaden is going to be able to do anything he sets his mind to. He may not be where his peers are at yet, but there is nothing stopping him now, if he wants something, he’ll achieve it.”
Brooke credits Family & Children’s Center for giving Jaden better tomorrows. “They’re there for children and families. They invest in the child. Even during the rough patches, they never talked about giving up like the rest of the world.”
When school begins this fall, Jaden will return to a mainstream school. But Brooke doesn’t worry. She knows Family & Children’s Center is here.
*Names changed to protect privacy.
“Now Jaden sees himself like every other kid,” says Brooke. “I see that Jaden is going to be able to do anything he sets his mind to. He may not be where his peers are at yet, but there is nothing stopping him now, if he wants something, he’ll achieve it.”
Brooke credits Family & Children’s Center for giving Jaden better tomorrows. “They’re there for children and families. They invest in the child. Even during the rough patches, they never talked about giving up like the rest of the world.”
When school begins this fall, Jaden will return to a mainstream school. But Brooke doesn’t worry. She knows Family & Children’s Center is here.
*Names changed to protect privacy.
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