Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra Suzette Brown.
Hi Debra Suzette, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I went through a challenging divorce that affected my mental health at a very young age and we had a young daughter from the marriage. Because of the Trauma from my divorce, I was diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression. I had no immediate family in the Metro Atlanta area, therefore my Mother, Johnnie Mae Jenkins whom I shared a very close relationship insisted, I let my daughter, her granddaughter come stay with her and my dad. They were very concerned about my mental health as well as my daughter’s well-being. They offered to keep my young daughter, so I could focus on my mental and physical health. I really didn’t want to depart from my only child, but because of my mental health and no support, my physical health was slowly declining too. I made a tough decision to let my daughter go stay with my parents, so I could heal and bring her back home, sooner than later. That’s exactly what happened, after a long six years with many visits, telephone calls, buying gifts to support my child and sending financial assistance to my parents for her, she was back with me, her mom.
The experience of having my parents supporting me and my daughter at a critical time of my life motivated me to start my Nonprofit to support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and Kinship Parents. My nonprofit supports Kinship Parents in any way that we can mentally, physically, emotionally, educationally and spiritually. Without Kinship support a child or children may not have the opportunity to still remain connected to their parents. Being placed with a kin will decrease trauma in our children and maintain positive birth family connections, if possible. My husband now of 32 years, Charles and I received a call from DFCAS 13 years ago about placement of our granddaughter. We have adopted ten children who are now young adults doing very well.
Family connection is very important to us that’s why we are raising our granddaughter. We do support a open relationship as long as it’s healthy for our granddaughter.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been obstacle fee, but with my lived experienced of Mental Health and my purpose/passion for Grandparents Raising Grandkids and Kinship, it makes my mission a smooth road to my vision that every child deserves a strong supportive family. I applied for an SBA Loan and was denied. I will continue to seek donors and support for Each One Teach One Together Inc. because I know God do not want me to give up or give in. Kinship parents need financial support for childcare, utilities, rent, clothing and food. Kinship Families most likely are on a fixed income when they accept placement of their kin. What is not clear is that if children are not in DFACS, there is no or minimal financial support. If Kinship Parents do not have guardianship of their kin and they apply for state benefits, then their eligibility is based on their personal income, which more than likely will disqualify them. Not fair at all at all. In Georgia there are 319,766 children living in homes where a relative is head of household, 101,000 children being raised by kin with no parent present, 3,798 children in foster care being raised by kin, 95, 248 grandparents responsible for their grandchildren in Georgia and for every 1 child raised by kin in foster care, there are 28 being raised by kin outside of foster care.
You want to know about Kinship in your State? Please go to www.grandfamilies.org to find all GrandFacts state fact sheet.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Each One Teach One Together, Inc?
Each One Teach One Together, Inc is a nonprofit that has a CEO with lived experience. I have a passion as well as a purpose to assist Kinship Families. Our Mission Statement: Strengthening families by providing supportive services and empowering parents with resources. Our Vision: Every child deserves a strong supportive family. If it had not been for my parent’s support, I don’t know what would have happened to me. My brand encompasses six guiding principles: Parents have to be strong and flexible, parents need support, parenting is part natural, part learned, ALL parents need help sometimes, children need help communicating. Parents and children need and deserve love and respect. This is the model used in my support meetings, parental trainings and during our coaching sessions. I have lived experience and that helps my families trust me. Families should not feel ashamed to share their experiences and/or stories. We at EOTOT are nonjudgmental and we support our families and children. I have obtained a power for Learning as a result of my Mental Health struggles. We are members of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness Atlanta Chapter), NFFCMH (National Federation for Children’s Mental Health, Washington, DC and we are a Federation Chapter that is supported by the Georgia Parent Support Network (GPSN) here in Atlanta. We have ongoing Federation Support Meetings every third Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30 pm via ZOOM. We educate families on parental techniques and skills on Mental Health Diagnosis, Self-Care, Resiliency, Budgeting and much more.
What does success mean to you?
My definition of success is simply “Be better today than you were yesterday”, and know “This too shall pass”.
Contact Info:
- Email: eachoneteachonetogether@gmail.com
- Website: www.eachoneteachonetogether.org
- Facebook: each one teach one together
Image Credits:
Mother, Johnnie Mae Jenkins, Dad, Marvin James Jenkins and Husband of 32 years Charles Allen Brown. Last but not least, GOD!
