Michigan camp supports re-entry for people who were incarcerated as youth

People who begin their young adulthood in the juvenile justice system and continue to be incarcerated into adulthood have not had opportunities to learn basic life skills such as how to pay rent or file taxes. Some report feeling ‘stuck’ at the age they were when they entered the justice system. Upon their release, even as middle-aged adults, they are often not equipped to adjust easily to the world outside of prison. These adjustments are also complicated by trauma they are still processing. The Youth Justice Fund hosts a camp, similar to a summer camp, in Northern Michigan to help people who were incarcerated as youth reacclimate and process their trauma. Access to these supports, as well as a sense of community among camp attendees, has been an important stepping stone for this population. #covid-19 #mentalhealth #deucation