Latest news with #autismawareness
CBS News
19 hours ago
- CBS News
Mikayla Raines, founder of Minnesota's Save A Fox rescue, dies at 29, husband says
Mikayla Raines, the force behind the Minnesota-based Save A Fox rescue who found fame on YouTube for her devotion to helping animals, has died by suicide at 29, according to her husband. In a video published on her rescue's Facebook page on Monday, her husband, Ethan Raines, announced she died on Saturday. "From a young age, she dedicated every waking hour of her life to helping [animals], whether it was helping a snapping turtle cross the road, we're saving 500 foxes from a terrible fur farm. She was never in it for fame, money or personal gain," said Ethan Raines. He said his wife saved thousands of animals in her lifetime, in addition to being a "wonderful wife and caring mother." Ethan Raines said in the video his wife "struggled with autism, with depression, with borderline personality disorder and more," and was an advocate for autism awareness. He went on to say she endured a lot of online bullying, most recently from people "she considered close friends." "If you only have negative garbage to say, just shut up," he said. "And if you are feeling lost and hopeless, please reach out to someone, whether it's friends and family or calling a hotline." Mikayla Raines in 2019. WCCO Ethan Raines says he plans to hold an event in her honor "where everyone can come here and pay their final respects." "I gave Mikayla all of my love and energy, and I will do the same with this rescue going forward. As long as you are all here to support us, we can do this," he said. Mikayla Raines founded Save A Fox in Lakeville in 2017, initially finding herself at odds with the City Council for violating her permit by taking in more than twice the number of foxes allowed, and by expanding the fencing on her property, according to city officials. "Ninety percent of the foxes that come through here are getting re-homed," she told WCCO in 2017. "I consider them my family." Although she lost her permit, she received $60,000 in donations in just a three-month span, leading her to open a bigger operation near Faribault in Rice County. Mikayla Raines told WCCO she began caring for animals as a teenager, first taking in a fox when she was 19 to save it from a fur farm. "These foxes need a place to go, so I want to make that happen," she told WCCO in 2019. "And I'm going to do whatever it takes to do that." If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Boy laid to rest as daycare death investigation continues
PARK HILLS, Mo. – Hundreds show their support for Conrad Ashcraft, the 3-year-old boy who died at daycare in Park Hills. The daycare, Poppy's Playhouse 2, has lost its license. Missouri's Office of Childhood wrote a letter to the facility, stating that Conrad was secluded in a hallway during naptime because he was whining and crying. It says a provider at the center trapped his arms in a tucked blanket and laid her legs down over his legs. It says she covered him with an 18.2 lb. weighted blanket. No one checked on Conrad for hours. He was found dead four hours later when his mom showed up to pick him up. No charges have been filed at this point. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Hours before the funeral was set to take place on Friday, hundreds had shown up at the funeral home to show their support. Cars were painted with 'Justice for Conrad.' Blue balloons and banners hung around town to raise autism awareness in his honor. 'I know these streets will be lined, I'm sure, from here all the way to the gravesite. There's going to be a tremendous amount of support,' Conrad's cousin, Danielle Love, said. Family friend Justin Williams also has a child with autism. They would play with Conrad frequently. 'That smile always lit up a room. He did what he wanted, and the world was his oyster,' he said. The St. Francois County Sheriff's Dept. Put out a statement on Friday saying it is 'unwavering in their pursuit of truth and justice and is dedicated to ensuring a comprehensive and transparent investigation.' An autopsy was conducted earlier this week, but no cause of death has been determined. FOX 2 called the St. Francois County coroner on Friday but has not heard back. In a new twist to the investigation, it was revealed that the daycare's owner used to work for the St. Francois County Prosecutor's Office. As a result, it has recused itself from the case. Jefferson County prosecuting attorney Trisha Stefanski has accepted an appointment as an independent special prosecuting attorney. The daycare's owner was also a sitting Park Hills city councilwoman, but she has since resigned. FOX 2 spoke with someone at Poppy's Playhouse on Friday. They said the owner will not comment until after the investigation is complete. The owner was interviewed as part of the Office of Childhood investigation (OOC). The OOC wrote in its letter that she said the facility's practice is for staff to cuddle children who are having a hard time falling asleep, but she does not know if staff put their legs over children regularly. She also said that Conrad had diarrhea that morning and had laid his head down at lunch, which was not like him. Ultimately, the OOC said Poppy's Playhouse 2 had five violations and that its actions 'demonstrate a threat of imminent bodily harm to the children in care.' The case has drawn attention nationwide. Love's T-shirt fundraiser is spreading with an emphasis on Autism Awareness. 'I've gotten them from New York. I've gotten them from Florida,' she said about orders coming in. Donate here: Help support St. Louis storm victims Across town, people lined up for hours to buy a special donut as part of another fundraiser. Hurt's Donuts was already planning a fundraiser for the local senior center. It added a special tribute donut specifically to raise money for Conrad's family. Seth Martin, a stranger to the family, came from 30 miles away for the funeral Friday. 'I believe that's what draws us together, the innocence of a child being taken away at such a young age,' he said. Conrad's life was cut too short, but his impact will last a lifetime. 'It means the absolute world to our family, and we couldn't be more thankful,' Love said. There is a silent auction taking place for Conrad's family this weekend. It will be at The Bullpen Sports Grill. Love will also be there taking T-shirt orders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Compassionate Behavior Solutions Launches Comprehensive Courses to Help Every Child Thrive
05/22/2025, St. Louis, Missouri // PRODIGY: Feature Story // On a mission to help all children thrive, Compassionate Behavior Solutions (CBS) released a set of comprehensive courses designed to equip teachers with a better understanding of students' unique needs and challenges. Led by Amy Titone, PhD, a board-certified behavior analyst with 35 years of industry experience, the organization provides training, consultation, and support to school districts, agencies, and families who work with children with explosive behavior. By launching its courses, CBS hopes to broaden its impact even further. The courses center on three aspects: disruptive behaviors, mental health support, and autism awareness. The first zeroes in on those teachers and parents working with behaviors that disrupt the classroom, as well as with kids' refusal to work. Amidst a myriad of courses, Dr. Titone highlights Rage to Reason:Behavior Intervention for the Treatment of Explosive Behavior in the Classroom as an invaluable resource for understanding skill deficits that lead to refusals and rage, regulating anxiety in the classroom, and teaching coping skills, among others. Through mental health support courses, CBS rewrites the common narrative that mental illness is a primarily adult problem. Therefore, it offers programs like Social Emotional Learning Certification:Supporting Mental Health in the School Setting, a four-day certification training, to build a better foundation of social and emotional support at school and at home. 'Many people still don't realize how common and serious childhood mental health concerns are,' stresses Dr. Titone. 'These courses provide more than the necessary education; they break the stigma that prevents kids from getting the help they need and deserve.' Meanwhile, its autism awareness resources focus on identifying and understanding ASD's symptoms, both mild and severe. Effective Classroom Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorders is one of its core ASD courses, offering visual, behavioral, and language mapping strategies that empower children on the spectrum to thrive in the classroom and beyond. It's important to note that CBS's courses are pre-recorded and on-demand, allowing teachers, parents, and communities to access these invaluable insights whenever, wherever. This format was inspired by the evident void Dr. Titone noticed when traveling across the state and nation to deliver disruptive behavior training presentations during professional development days. 'Every morning or lunch break, teachers would line up, asking for advice on particular behaviors,' she recalls. 'But presenting for a wide audience, delving into specific tendencies simply wasn't possible.' Dr. Titone, dedicated to bridging this gap, sought alternative solutions, and on-demand content was the natural next step. Her efforts with online courses began many years ago, but it wasn't until COVID sparked the digital revolution that it took off. Especially in today's landscape, where overwhelmed teachers, particularly in special education, tend to quit, it is essential to equip them with the tools to understand—not manage—disruptive behaviors. To fuel her mission. Dr. Titone also provides a free child-specific consultation to anyone who completes one of CBS's courses. This allows parents and educators to access valuable feedback from someone who understands the challenges and needs of both adults and children intimately. 'Even when you have finished the course and you are equipped with the knowledge to make a change in your classroom, life has a way of surprising us,' she says. 'That's what this meeting is for: asking specific questions and seeking personalized guidance. And sometimes, all you need to hear is that you're doing everything just fine.' Ultimately, CBS's courses go beyond skills and education; they ignite a paradigm shift in a system designed to shape smart, confident, and kind leaders for tomorrow. 'If we don't change the way we provide training for teachers, we're risking an entire generation of children who are failed by the very system created to uplift them,' she reflects. 'But if we can understand their behaviors and challenges, we can ignite their passion in a way that makes a difference. Because when kids are guided to become the best version of themselves, they become extraordinary human beings doing extraordinary things.' Media Contact: Name: Dr. Amy Titone Email: [email protected] Source: Compassionate Behavior Solutions Source published by Submit Press Release >> Compassionate Behavior Solutions Launches Comprehensive Courses to Help Every Child Thrive
