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17-Jun-2025 | Justice Programs

National Youth Justice and Child Protection Forum

At the National Youth Justice and Child Protection Forum, SYC’s Community Services team joined national leaders, advocates and service providers to share insights, connect with peers and contribute SYC’s voice to the conversation on healing, safety and systemic change.

The team highlighted the everyday work of our Youth Justice and Out of Home Care programs, and the impact that comes when young people are surrounded by people who believe in them.

A young person participating in one of our programs shared their perspective in the forum’s closing session, offering a powerful reflection:

“Everyone needs to reform in a different way, when you throw everyone into the same box. The people who aren’t meant to be in that box for whatever reason are going to see things and deal with things from other people inside that box and they are going to come out of that box a different person. Then the box for them before won’t be the right box for them anymore because they are completely different.”

Their words served as a reminder of the importance of listening to lived experience and designing support that meets each young person where they are.

Thank you to our Community Services team for representing SYC at the forum and for continuing to advocate for community-led, culturally strong approaches that help young people thrive.