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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kim Bouchard   201/329-9636 One Woman’s Call to Action in Her Crusade to Save Children

From a young age, Camila Batmanghelidjh knew she was destined to work with children.  She mortgaged her flat to set-up her charities and devoted her life to helping children in need.  She has fought the system to provide the housing and services promised to these vulnerable children.  It is shocking to discover how these children are failed again and again by the services created to protect them.  In SHATTERED LIVES: Children Who Live With Courage and Dignity (June 2006, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Hardcover, $19.95; 1-84310-434-2; 176 pages), Batmanghelidjh writes letters to some of the courageous and extraordinary children she has encountered along the way.   Each chapter tells the story of a child’s particular trauma—whether sexual abuse, parental drug abuse, or loss—and illustrates the feelings of shame, rejection, and worthlessness that have resulted from their negative experiences.  She offers valuable advice for those wanting to better understand and communicate with these hard-to-reach children and warns against the stigmatization of children who present problem behaviors.  She hopes to raise public awareness of the children who are often abandoned by society, and to change attitudes towards them.  With this knowledge, Batmanghelidjh encourages readers to demand change in their social programs. Camila Batmanghelidjh is founder and director of Kids Company, a charity which runs on a self-referral basis to provided emotional and practical multidisciplinary support to vulnerable and isolated inner-city children.  Kids Company was the subject of the recent BBC2 documentary ‘Tough Kids – Tough Love’, and in recognition of her achievements with the company, Batmanghelidjh was awarded the title of ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year.’ Batmanghelidjh trained in fine and performing arts as well as in psychotherapy, and has over 15 years’ experience in child psychology.  In her mid-twenties she set up her first charity, The Place to Be (now known as P2B) – a national organization in the United Kingdom offering therapy to children in schools, which is highly commended by the United Kingdom Department of Health.  She organized the acclaimed 2004 Tate Modern exhibition ‘Shrinking Childhoods’ – a collection of art created by children from Kids Company.  All royalties from SHATTERED LIVES are paid to Kids Company. Jessica Kingsley Publishers specializes in producing accessible professional and academic books in the social and behavioral sciences. In 2007, Jessica Kingsley Publishers was named both the Academic & Professional Publisher of the Year and the overall Independent Publisher of the Year at the Independent Publishing Awards in London. The prizes coincide with Jessica Kingsley Publishers' 20th year as an independent company. Jessica Kingsley books are available worldwide through distributors, local bookstores and online bookstores. The company has offices in London and Philadelphia. More information can be found at www.jkp.com.