Alice Slaughter-Flowers and her daughter, Tiffany Kelly, returned home from Tallahassee this week, extremely delighted with the support they received from many of the legislators. After talking to lawmakers for the second year in a row, and working to get their Parent Abuse bill recognized as a category of Domestic Violence, there is a positive response within the 2015 legislative session.
As the pair continue working to get the bill passed in the Florida legislature, they need to raise public awareness about this issue to gain additional support for the measure. They are asking for your financial support.
Parent Abuse refers to abusive behavior leveled at parents by their children. This abuse may be physical, verbal, psychological or financial, and is generally associated with issues of in-home control and reversal of the parent-to-child role.
In 2013, Alice’s sister, Rosemary Slaughter-Pate, a Sr. Contracts Manager with Lockheed Martin, was violently murdered by her then 19-year old son after being abused by the teen for years. Like many parents who deal with parent abuse, Slaughter-Pate suffered through her ordeal in silence.
There is a study underway at the University of Central Florida (UCF) with families who are experiencing this type of abuse. The purpose of the study is to establish evidence that this behavior is prevalent throughout the state, and to reocmmend effective measures to promote supportive services.
Alice and her daughter have formed a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization (exempt status pending) called The Morning After Center for Hope and Healing (TMAC). The goal of TMAC is to provide support to parents that are being abused.
The organization holds monthly Parent Abuse Awareness and Support Meetups in order to educate, provide a confidential, shame-free, judgment-free, stigma-free zone for sharing stories and recommendations on how to remain safe. The focus is on creating innovative solutions, programs and techniques.
Ms. Flowers and Ms. Kelly are pushing to create a national and state dialogue on Parent Abuse while working to get a seat at the table where policies and funding are negotiated and discussed. Legislation aimed at this problem is desperately needed because within the current judicial system, minors are treated differently than adults. Parents are responsible for the care of minor children even when the child displays abusive/violent behavior towards them, and parents could face criminal charges if they separate themselves from the child and the child is considered to have been abandoned.
Please join Ms. Flowers and her daughter in their quest by donating $5, $10, $25, $100 or more. The donations will be used for travel, outreach, mailings, workshops, and business fees.
Ms. Flowers and Ms. Kelly both welcome the opportunity to further discuss Parent Abuse. Ms. Flowers can be reached at 321-229-7688 (aliceflowers2@yahoo.com), and Tiffany Kelly at 772-708-4759.
Email: themorningaftercenter@gmail.com.
Website: www.themorningaftercenter.org.
