Stoneleigh Visiting Fellow Bob Listenbee is interviewed for an ongoing series by the Juvenile Law Center on career pathways and barriers for system-involved youth.
Youth placed in juvenile justice institutions face a fundamental obstacle in their career pathway: They have been removed from their communities and lack access to the full array of educational and job opportunities available to their peers. In particular, many facilities are ill-equipped to provide appropriate treatment for the roughly 75 percent of youth in their care who were previously victims of violent trauma. Without treatment, this trauma can manifest as behavioral health conditions, mental illness and substance abuse, all of which are present at rates two to three times more for children in the juvenile justice system. As a fellow with the Stoneleigh Foundation, Bob Listenbee hopes to build bridges between the various justice system players to create a comprehensive support system for youth.
