months of working with him, encouraging him to journal, express his feelings, talk with others, use other tools to 
help him with his sadness led to amazing results. He left our facility after more than a year, graduated from high 
school and even went to college! Getting the individualized attention helped Josh change. He became a success 
story of the juvenile justice system. 
Working with youth takes patience, consistency, and compassion. It is one of the most difficult jobs there is, but 
it is possible to be a very positive influence in the lives of kids who need it the most. If you are interested in working 
with youth, plan on committing to at least a year. Incarcerated kids are used to having people give up on them 
and disappoint them, so you do not want to add to their negative experiences. Show up, follow through, and be 
optimistic about a better future for justice-involved youth. 
ALISON S. BURKE, DAVID CARTER, BRIAN FEDOREK, TIFFANY MOREY, LORE RUTZ-BURRI, AND SHANELL
SANCHEZ
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