Spotlight
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Juvenile Justice Week of Faith February 15-21, 2010 Thank you for participating in Juvenile Justice Week of Faith. It was a great success! To raed about the stories and events that took place, click here |
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As leaders of faith communities, we believe in children and families. It is our mission to support and be a voice for those children whose families cannot protect them and for families who are struggling to care for their own children. We believe: Every child, regardless of color, religion or physical or psychological limitations, needs a home and a committed family for life
Families should be helped to stay together, if they can do so with safety for themselves and the community, and to care for and protect their own children.
Children who cannot live with their own families should live with other families who can protect and nurture them.
Children should not be separated from their brothers and sisters, friends, schools or communities, even though their parents are unable to care for them, unless this separation is necessary for their safety or the safety of the community.
Children whose parents cannot care for them should have the opportunity to have good education, quality health care, spiritual support and counseling to deal with their many losses. Like all other children, they should have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Children and adolescents need educational structure and support to become positive functioning members of society. Children and adolescents are particularly able to change and grow and are not always able to understand the consequences of their actions. To protect our communities and allow them to thrive, children and adolescents who commit illegal acts must be made to appreciate the consequences of those actions to themselves and others, and given the ability to change their behavior and seek forgiveness from the victims of their acts. This cannot be accomplished when children are treated as adults.
Young people, even after they are eighteen, have the right to be helped and supported by families and communities until they are able to become fully independent. They, too, need communities and families throughout their lives.
Families live in communities. Communities have the moral right and obligation to support their children and families.
The strength of all communities, and particularly faith communities, is in the health and well being of their children and families.
We are pledged to make these principles a reality by: Advocating on behalf of youth and families to ensure that these principles are embodied in law, policy, and practice and that they guide decisions made by government and private agencies. Educating ourselves and our faith communities about the often forgotten children and families who are caught up in the child protection and juvenile justice systems. Those of us who have these children and families in our congregations will use this education to assist them in understanding these very complicated systems. Taking direct action to improve the lives of these children and families. Our level of involvement will vary with our circumstances. Some examples are: recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive parents; providing housing, emotional support and guidance for youth leaving the foster care system; mentoring or educating youth and families; conducting book or furniture drives; and ensuring that families have the economic support, health care and services, and opportunities for worship, recreation and social experiences they need. Working with our communities to increase support for these children and families.
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