Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a proclamation making April Child Abuse Prevention Month.
At a news conference at the Capitol Tuesday morning, the governor also announced the appointment of the First Lady to chair the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet.
Casey DeSantis says she’ll work with residents who relied on state services growing up.
“There are great programs out there for these kids to turn their lives around. It’s just, do people know that they exist?" asked DeSantis. "Do they know that the resources are there? Do parents know this? If they find their child going down the wrong road, how do we communicate that message to them?”
One kid who turned his life around and is ready to help get the message out is Javonta Brown. He was once a troubled Tallahassee teenager who went through eight foster homes.
“I’m here today for the 16-year-old that was told he wasn’t going to be going home or she wasn't going to be going home - just like I was five years ago," Brown said. "I'm here so that hopefully prevention can be made for them so no family has to be dysfunctional.”
Brown got help and encouragement from the state’s Guardian Ad Litem program. He told the crowd, "I hope everyone listening today can just ask yourself one question: 'what can I do today to make a difference?' And if you ask yourself a second question: 'what difference does that make for that child?'"
Brown got his GED, and now he's majoring in political science. He wants to get a law degree and become a Supreme Court justice.
