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When traditional systems couldn’t meet my children’s needs, I became an advocate: not just for them, but for every family caught in the gaps between the educational, mental health care and child welfare systems. This Child Needs Help is my family’s story, and a powerful blueprint for reforming how we understand and support kids with complex behavioral health needs.
Praise for This Child Needs Help
“This Child Needs Help is one of the most important children’s behavioral health books I’ve read as a legislator that speaks to issues we face not only in Washington State but across our nation. Peggy Dolane captures the reality of families navigating systems that too often fail children with complex behavioral health needs and leaves them to navigate often broken and siloed systems on their own. She shows how our laws, labels, and decisions ripple into the daily lives of children shaped by trauma, neurodiversity, and invisible disabilities, and she does so with both honesty and compassion. I have been sharing this book with colleagues across the state because it makes clear what we in public service must never forget: families are doing their best in systems that were not built for them. Peggy gives us both the urgency to act and a vision of what a more humane, family-centered system could look like. For policymakers, providers, and parent advocates alike, this book is both a call to accountability and a call to hope. It should be required reading for anyone in a position to shape the future of children’s behavioral health.” — Carolyn Eslick, Washington State Representative, 39th District
“This incredibly powerful book is a perfect example of how a mom on a mission is the most powerful force in the universe. As an attorney who specializes in representing adolescents in crisis, both in school and in court, not only do I plan to share this book with my clients, but also as a textbook to help me understand the adolescents I represent. Peggy’s personal story is inspiring, especially given the difficulties she faces. However, her insight into the system and identifying its pitfalls can make the difference between parents navigating a mine field with a map in hand, versus being chased through one blindfolded. The perspective Peggy shared will be invaluable to me in my practice. I literally saw the faces of the children I represent as I read through her story.”— Robert M Tudisco, Esq., Irvington, New York
“Few people carry their lived experience with as much purpose and generosity as Peggy Dolane. I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Peggy in many advocacy projects over the last 10+ years, and most recently as co-chairs of WSCC’s Advocacy Leadership and Training Committee. I’ve watched her turn her own family’s challenges into a powerful engine of change for thousands of other parents. Her advocacy has shaped legislation, informed statewide systems, and made the path smoother for families fighting for the supports their children deserve. Peggy played a vital role in assisting with development of Washington State’s new multi-year behavioral health strategic plan, ensuring that the voices of real families guided its direction. This book captures her heart, her fire, and the hard-won wisdom she freely pours into others. It is not only an honest and needed resource—it is a testament to what lived experience leadership can accomplish.” –Richelle Madigan, Executive Director, Washington State Community Connectors (WSCC), Mom of 8
“I have known Peggy Dolane for over a decade. I felt seen when I read this book because I also have a child that struggled as a teen. Getting help for my child was very challenging, which was an ugly surprise. I kept thinking how different our journey might have been if I had known the insights Peggy’s book shares when we were in the thick of it. The clarity and practical understanding could have changed everything sooner for our family. I have watched Peggy’s advocacy efforts grow from a personal mission into a powerful movement in our state. She has brought families together, opened doors that were long closed to parents, and helped leaders understand what it feels like to navigate systems that are confusing and fragmented. Her voice has shifted conversations in ways that many of us once believed were impossible. Providers need the perspective of lived experience woven into their education. The impact on real families from broken pathways in our treatment system is profound. This book provides essential knowledge for anyone who works with children – social workers, child welfare advocates, educators, judges, nurses, doctors and more. I believe this book can shape a new direction for behavioral health across the country. It offers a blueprint for reform grounded in the real experiences of families who have been left out for far too long. It will change hearts, guide policy, and help build systems that finally support children and parents; just like Peggy has already done in Washington State.” – Mary Cole, parent
“This Child Needs Help, by Peggy Dolane, is an outstanding book that surpasses the focus and breadth within its genre. This book is destined to change the policies and predicaments that have kept children struggling while unintended consequences prevailed. The book offers poignant memoir and advocacy for kids labeled as ‘failures’ to thrive, and ‘failures’ to assimilate, while their own mental health needs were minimized in unprepared systems. Author, Peggy Dolane, writes with conviction in a way that shows her attention to her children who, like so many, did not fit into a generalized box. While a powerful read, Dolane’s book supports those navigating endless challenges, ultimately showing an urgent need for change. Based on my background of reading hundreds of drafts from outstanding authors, This Child Needs Help is, without question, an excellent choice to serve as a foundational text. Professions will feel proud to offer the book in classes that prepare future educators, clinicians, policy students, and family-serving professionals. It invites reflection while offering concrete knowledge from the perspective of the people receiving supplemental services. I had the pleasure to interview Dolane on my live radio show, Story U Talk Radio on KKNW, and I was struck by how naturally she speaks to parent listeners who likely feel terribly alone. Her clarity and presence make the complex world of children’s behavioral health accessible to anyone who cares about families and systems that shape children’s lives. I am certain this book will serve as a touchstone for parents, professionals, and anyone who is ready to take part in meaningful behavioral health reform. Thank you for this opportunity to offer my endorsement for This Child Needs Help. Please give it your undivided attention.” –Deborah Handrich, Associate Professor of English 1996 – 2015, Writing Coach for Serious Book Writers
