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$1,000 in prizes for 4 winners

Youth Communication is sponsoring a writing contest for young people who have had experience the juvenile justice system. We are collecting the stories and perspectives from youth in detention and Close to Home sites to learn how the system can be improved.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Youth ages 14-19 with current or previous juvenile or criminal justice experience.

WRITE ONE OF TWO ESSAYS:
Your essay will help the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) create better experiences for other young people who come through the system!

Choose one essay topic. Please keep your essay between 250-500 words.

Essay #1: Write a letter to the head of the facility or program you were in. What is a change the institution can make to better support youth while they are inside and prepare them for release? Why would this make a difference? How would it help young people?

Essay #2: Write a story about a time when a staff member asked the right question or did the right thing. What did they do or say? How did if help? How did it make you feel?

Deadline: September 1, 2020
Your complete entry, including the form and essay, must be submitted online by September 1, 2020.

View the flyer [pdf]

Disclaimer: all entries may be used by ACS in full or part for staff development purposes. Writers' identities will remain anonymous.

NOTE: (fields marked by an asterisk* are required)