Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2285

Tonight's special guest is Vincent Reed from Minnesota, a survivor of child abuse, as were his siblings. Vincent explains, “I was placed in foster care at the age of 5, along with my 5 siblings. My biological mother lost me at 5, regained custody of me when I was 9. She then moved us from WA to MN where her family was from. At 11 she lost us again due to abuse in the home, she got us back 6 months later. She then gave us up again at the age of 13, terminating all parental rights. I was in and out of homes at times so fast that I barely got to unpack my black garbage bag of belongings. I was in some good, loving homes along with some very horrific ones. I survived many different forms of abuse and can now at the age of 41 face all of my fears that go along with facing a troubled past.” Vincent's story is unfortunate not only due to the number of foster homes he went through but also because of the feeling of betrayal by his mother and her family. The foster care system let him and his siblings down. The biggest obstacle that Vincent faced after aging out was homelessness. He struggled throughout the years with alcohol abuse, trying to forget his past. He's written a book, called "A Glimpse At Being Broken," which is free on Kindle Unlimited. Vincent explains, “I have written a book about all I went through in my life, the beginning of the healing process. I am currently, and plan to remain, in therapy to help me start to understand better why I am the way I am now. I also am planning on starting back in school and getting a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. I have a huge urge to give back to those in need.”