Facebook Brings Awareness to Child Abuse & The Keystone Kid Available for Interviews on Abuse Issues

Dec. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- Regarding:  Facebook and Child Abuse Issues & The Release of The Keystone Kid Availability for Media Interviews regarding physical and sexual abuse and more
From:  TVP and Friesen Press
Contact or copy for review:  mike@thevirtualpew.com or 1-800-344-5013 or 1-316-258-3952
Press Kit Available: www.thekeystonekid.com or mike@thevirtualpew.com

The Cartoons are taking over popular social media site, Facebook.  In an attempt to gain attention to Child Abuse, Facebook members across the country are using cartoon avatars to bring awareness to the issue.

Mike Furches, the director of The Virtual Pew, an online community of faith open to all belief and faith groups has been doing this for years.  The recent publication of his book, The Keystone Kid deals with the issues related to abuse.  In the book, Furches tells his story which included both physical and sexual abuse.  The book concludes with his discovery of hope and love through relationship and faith.  Furches has shared his story across the globe, via radio, television, print, and in person.  

His varied background which had him turning into a bully and eventually involved in sexual perversion his own self gives a unique perspective for media interviews.  “One of the concerns I have had is that many would look at who I was and then reject me for who I have become.  I thank God I am not who I was.”  Furches has stated numerous times in interviews.  A recent article by Furches on being a bully also garnished respect from various communities ranging from Christians, GBLT Groups, and various others, Furches has garnished respect for speaking out on these issues from various professionals, and victims across the globe.

Mike Furches has written a new book titled The Keystone Kid which chronicles his story of abuse, the development of Post Traumatic Disorder, and the hope that can come to those who have experienced difficult times.  The book written in novel format chronicles his experiences of healing and the role of his therapist in the healing process.  

Mike Furches is well known in the area of treatment and rehabilitation for the Mentally Ill.  For approximately 15 years he worked either as a Rehabilitation Therapist, Qualified Case Manage, Qualified Mental Health Professional, or Executive Director for Severe and Persistently Mentally Ill Adults, (SPMI) programs, specifically, The Fountain House Model of Rehabilitation.  During that time Mike served on the International Faculty for the International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD)  While there, he was among the original 7 who wrote the International Clubhouse Standards, wrote the original Preamble to the Standards, and was involved in the training and establishment of The North Carolina Clubhouse Coalition, The Oklahoma Clubhouse Coalition, rehabilitation programs in countries including Australia, Japan, Korea, and states such as Mississippi, New Mexico, Hawaii, Indiana and others.  During this time he was also a speaker at various conferences including the National Innovative Approaches to Psychiatric Rehabilitation, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and various others such as The International Seminar for Clubhouses, and various state and regional conferences related to Mental Health and Consumer services.  Mike has also been published in the Psycho Social Rehabilitation Journal, and various other psychology and psychosocial related periodicals.  He has appeared in numerous training videos, including Innovative Approaches to Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Schizophrenia, put out by Sandoz.  He was also the director at Sixth Avenue West, a division of Trend Mental Health in Hendersonville North Carolina when Trend was selected as one of the first two National pilot programs for Managed Care practices and policy.  Mike’s achievements have not stopped here though, he was involved in the rights of the mentally ill in the work force by working with the establishment of National Vocational Rehabilitation Program policies and he served on the Task Force for Hiring of Persons with Disabilities.  

Advance copies of the book in e-book format are available for review and you can also visit the web site for the book at www.thekeystonekid.com  Mike is also available for media interviews.  The book is available at all major retailers through Ingram Distribution.  It is also available for online orders at the web site, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more.  

Now to see what those in the Mental Health Community have shared about Mike, read on:

"On behalf of the Board of Directors and members of NAMI, I'd like to thank you for speaking at our 16th Annual Convention earlier this month in Nashville. Your workshop, "From Zero to Clubhouse in 12 Months: How to Start a Clubhouse the AMI way," proved to be a valuable part of our program."

"It was certainly gratifying to see more than 2000 grassroots NAMI members at the meeting. You can rest assured that the information you shared will be put to good use as each of those 2,000 activists goes home to begin work anew."

Laurie M. Flynn
Executive Director National Alliance
For The Mentally Ill, NAMI

“The world is full of hurting people. They have been abused, assaulted & cast aside. They are victims. They walk by you every day. Some bury their pain in addictions. Some inflict their pain upon others. But the truth about pain, is that it always leaves scars. In this unsettling, & viscerally honest book, Mike Furches has chosen to tell the story behind every one of his own personal scars. Because sometimes hurting people, just need to know they are not alone...” ~ Rob Harris, Actor

“I just finished the Keystone Kid.  As I finished this book, I had tears in my eyes.” ~ Dr. Jack Alkon

"Do not let that "Aw shucks" demeanor fool you. You won't find a sharper wit and keener mind than what Mike has in his repertoire. The Keystone Kid is the kind of book that offers perspective to our everyday lives and reminds us to tell those that we love, exactly that. The author, Mike Furches, vividly brings this story to life! ~ Jack Yatsko, MSW LSW, Director for Training, International Center for Clubhouse Development

“Mike, Thank you for being a source of inspiration in the world and for shining light in the darkness.”  ~ Angela Shelton, National Advocate, Comedian, Filmmaker

Mike, I really like the timing with your pending release of the Keystone Kid. I think it is a great contrast with the recent publicity about the movie Precious and the book it is based upon Push, both great works that illustrate surviving horrendous abuse issues. Their graphic nature though can be off-putting for people not understanding the cycle of abuse. Your book pulls the reader in without that aspect. I hope social service and juvenile service agencies make this available to their consumers.  God bless ~ Klint Deere, T. Boone Pickens Associate, and Former Social Worker.


"Thank you so much for your presentation in Bartlesville. Several of the conference participants cited your workshop as their favorite in the evaluation. They felt that the presentation provided them with a lot of useful information. I hope you enjoyed the conference as well. Thank you again."

Kari Czypinski
Oklahoma Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Oklahoma City

"Mike speaks from the heart and relates his experiences with poise and humor."

Kaye Rote
Executive Director Oklahoma Consumer Council
Oklahoma City, Ok

"During my professional association with Mike, he has demonstrated tremendous leadership characteristics with special gifts in communications and motivation. Perhaps his best characteristic, though, is his strong commitment to ethics and morality".

Steve Buck, ED, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

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Mike Furches is an outspoken advocate for those who have been taken advantage of. From the poor to the abused, he has lived a life that has had him walk in the shoes of others. His writings have been read by millions, yet his goal is to reach one person