Thread by @JohnKiehneForMo

I was a foster advocate and provider for 12 years. We're now legal guardians for 4 kids in order to keep them safe and give them a chance to live their best life. Their parents failed them and the system failed (and continues to fail) them. THAT's why I'm running for office.

My wife and I have navigated the Court System, the Foster System, Behavioral Health, Law Enforcement, a wide variety of Service Providers, 504 plans, IEP's, public schools, Special School District and SSD schools, residential facilities, Vocational Rehab, Sheltered Workshop, etc.

I've seen and dealt with (and continue to deal with) people who have been BROKEN by abusers and their struggles as they try to survive on ever-diminishing resources in an already stressed and underfunded system. These people often never had a chance through no fault of their own.

I realize that we can't fix every problem or cure every person but if the #mogop was truly "pro-life" they would not stand for the abused and neglected to suffer further for lack of a system that provides at least basic resources necessary to facilitate a simple, safe existence.

A number of my friends and colleagues "in the business" struggle with the same challenges that we do except they may have dozens of cases apiece that also struggle but lack advocates to plead their case to a system that doesn't seem to be listening.
Resources are finite and few.

What I expect for the least of us is no different than what I expect for the most of us. Safety. Security. Opportunity. Justice. Peace.

Socialism isn't the problem and guns aren't the solution.

We need to commit long-term to reforming not only our system but our culture.

The problems that we face aren't new and aren't unique. However, we CAN enact laws and policies that address our greatest challenges and also build on our greatest successes. It won't be easy and it won't be cheap but it can be done. However- the ROI will be exponential.

When we bring children into the world without hope, safety, comfort, nurturing or proper education we're choosing to hamper that child's potential. It doesn't matter if they're in the inner city or the middle of nowhere.
I believe that EVERYBODY should get a fair chance at life.

If you agree with me then please support our grassroots campaign to #FlipHD110Blue in 2020 so that I can go to Jefferson City and continue to fight for families that have been left behind while working to build on our successes and use the resources that Missouri has to offer.

Our campaign doesn't take corporate PAC money and we depend on the commitment and determination of donors that want to see positive change in Missouri. They want Missouri to be a place that they can be proud to call home. I want to help make that happen.
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