Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill on June 23, strengthening the child-welfare system and increasing protection for children who face neglect, in response to a large amount of child abuse-related deaths over the past few years.

The bill implicated a change in the process the Department of Children and Families employs to investigate child abuse-related cases. It established a “Critical Incident Rapid Response Team” to investigate the death of children who have history with the the child welfare system and appointed a new DCF Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare.

SB 1666, the bill, focuses on improving the safety plans for children in the system and provides some funding for at-risk families. It has been modified from previous regulations as it concludes that protecting a child from abuse trumps keeping a family together. The DCF has previously offered family services while children remained at home. 

Annually, over three million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than six million children. The US loses between four and seven children every day to child abuse. The US has one of the worst records among industrialized nations, according to the ChildHelp website. 

Victims of child abuse are present in almost every community, including students at the University of Florida. 

Yourui Ruan, 17,  graduated as the 2014 valedictorian of Wellington High School with a 5.2 GPA. He held positions as the vice president of Key Club as well as president of both the Chemistry Honor Society and Forensic Debate. 

“Debate was my main extra-curricular throughout my high school career,” Ruan said. “I competed often in tournaments and coached the local middle school team.”            

Ruan was born in Beijing, China and was sent to live in the Shandong Province of China while his parents moved to the US. 

Ruan joined his family in the US at the age of 3.             

Soon Ruan will be joining thousands of other students as a member of UF’s incoming freshman class. He plans to major in biochemistry.             

“I want to become a doctor and I know that UF has a good medical school,” Ruan said. “I felt more comfortable going to a school in-state where I have a connection of friends to help me.”            

Ruan is looking to go into reconstructive surgery, a branch that has a significant connection to his personal life.             

Zhou Zheng, Ruan’s cousin, suffered from a cleft palate. Ruan said he remembers the way Zheng was picked on by other boys.             

During one of the visits Ruan made to China, he went with Zheng to the clinic where he had his surgery. The difference that it made on his cousin’s life resonated with him.             

Behind Ruan’s accomplishments, however, was the presence of several obstacles. The largest of which was his relationship with his parents.             

“Life at home was lonely,” Ruan said. “I often stayed in my room and avoided any interaction with my parents. I was in a very unstable living situation.” 

According to the GoFundMe page made in his honor, he was continually abused by his parents throughout his childhood.

“ I didn’t seek help since I was too afraid of the consequences,” Ruan said. “I was fearful that I would be sent into foster care.” 

According the Child Advocacy Center in Gainesville, victims often fear the system put in place to assist them. Previously, children have been shifted among agencies, being asked to tell the story of their abuse repetitively. 

Ruan was kicked out of his house two days after his eighteenth birthday without any of his belongings. 

“I was in a state of mental shock when it happened,” Ruan said. “I contacted friends immediately afterwards. They helped me through the ordeal by providing me with a home and supporting me.”

Ruan created the GoFundMe page in order to help him with the financial burden of attending the college.  

“The support I received from friends was good,” Ruan said. “I was surprised by the support and sympathy that I received from the community. I am currently in a much better place and enjoy life.”

 The page raised $809 over 27 days.             

“Yourui is really, really smart,” said Jessie Wang, a student at UF. “Very bright and very strong.  I grew up with him so he's like a little brother to me. I want to see him flourish and succeed and hope that he's able to find support and encouragement from UF.” 

Each year, more than 2,000 children are confirmed as victims of child abuse in Alachua County alone.

In the past, programs sponsored by UF and various state agencies such as the Child Abuse Prevention Project, which served 16 counties in North Central Florida have been cut due to lack of funding. 

The Child Advocacy Center is a facility that currently serves the Alachua county area. It is a child-friendly facility where professionals from law enforcement, medical, child protection and therapeutic services collaborate to meet the individual needs of child victims and break the cycle of abuse, according to their mission statement. 

Scott has launched a “Caring for Florida’s Families” campaign. He discusses future plans such as increasing resources for adoptive and foster families, job training for foster children exiting the system and professionalizing the child care provider workforce. 

To support Yourui Ruan, please visit: http://www.gofundme.com/9ynzaw