In Pennsylvania, 47% of youth who are between the ages of 14 and 21 are placed in group homes and institutions. This figure should be shocking and unacceptable - we know that youth should grow up in families.
Jessica Feierman, Esq., Senior Managing Director ,
Advocates have been pushing for this reform since the bill was last reauthorized in 2002; the passage of this law is a welcome bi-partisan achievement.
No doubt, our facilities need better oversight to avoid such abuses – but our youth also deserve more than that. They deserve to be kept safe and supported in their own homes, in other family settings, and in their communities.
This article is part of a series celebrating the tenth anniversary of Juvenile Law Center’s youth advocacy programs. Since 2008, our programs have recruited
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