Amy Friedman & Leticia Longoria-Navarro

Support for Teens with Incarcerated Family Members

 For most teens, home is a place where they can be themselves, where they can relax and breathe, and where they feel safe, nourished, and valued. For teens who carry the weight of having a loved one incarcerated or deported, home is also a place where they are not judged, where they are seen, heard, and respected by adults, and where they find unexpected connections with teens in similar situations. In the arts-based support meetings provided by The PATHfinder (Paving a Trail of Hope) and POPS (Pain of the Prison System) Clubs, these young people have a place that, in their words, “feels like home.”

Drawing on their understanding of innocent young people who have been traumatized and stigmatized by their association with the criminal justice system, Friedman, as well as Leticia Longoria-Navarro and Victor Trillo of the PATHfinder Network, as well as youth they serve, will discuss, Supporting teens affected by parental incarceration and emotional struggles is critical—safe spaces like The PATHfinder and POPS Clubs help them share pain, build judgment-free friendships, and express themselves through writing and art. Schools and communities must promote mental health awareness, challenge stigma, and create empowering environments that foster healing, connection, and activism.

https://thepathfinderclub.org/ 

 

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