‘I was sent away’: Youth Share Firsthand Accounts of Life in Group Homes
A report released today gives a rare, firsthand look inside group homes and lockups for youth, highlighting claims of discrimination and the rawness that lingers after violent incidents with staff, being sent to isolation and subjected to sub-par school and counseling.
“I felt like a prisoner there, and I didn’t feel safe there,” a young person identified as Aniya wrote of her former group home in Broken Bridges: Futures Denied.
The Juvenile Law Center’s research in the report features direct testimony from a dozen teens and young adults who, like Aniya, were sent to facilities in Pennsylvania by the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Staff attorneys helped pen the report and outlined recommendations.
In a press conference today, participants spoke to the urgency of the issues, and implored lawmakers to take notice and make improvements.
“Sharing these stories is important because we are voices for youth that don’t have one,” said Anahi Martinez, a youth advocate with the Juvenile Law Center. “We need to start seeing these places for what they are — and start holding them accountable."