Addressing & Acknowledging Grief of Justice-Involved Youth
A Listening Guide to the Roadmap for Change Podcast, Episode 5
This episode covers the layers of grief and generational trauma that youth in the juvenile justice system might be carrying.
Welcome to the Episode 5 Listening Guide!
This episode of the Roadmap for Change podcast covers the layers of grief and generational trauma that youth in the juvenile justice system might be carrying, as well as the ways professionals can help these youth honor the memory of their ancestors and loved ones as they navigate their dreams and expectations for the future.
As you listen (Step 1), feel free to take notes, and then take some time with the reflection questions when you’re done (Step 2). This will help you process some of the more complex topics and find the ways that they intersect with your own life experiences, work, and circle of influence. Then, choose one of the possible action items (Step 3) that feels accessible and see if you can put it into practice.
Step 1: Listen to the Episode
Step 2: Consider These Reflection Questions
1
Think about how you felt when you lost someone close to you? What did you want to hear at that time? What was most helpful for you to help carry those feelings? Did you want to talk about the person you lost?
2
What do most people think grief “looks like”/how is it represented in media? On the other hand, what does grief actually look like for different people?
3
How do trauma and grief overlap in the lives of youth, especially for those from communities with generational trauma?
Step 3: Take an Action Step
Think about the stories the youth shared in this episode that were most eye-opening for you. How can you create more space for people experiencing grief to talk about their loved ones?
A youth is experiencing the grief of losing a loved one. Consider each type of distress they might be feeling and think of a way to channel those feelings to help the youth move forward.
Separation Distress: They’re missing the family member and they’re feeling a lot of big feelings
Identity Distress: They feel the need to become like the person they lost in order to honor them, including their harmful behaviors.
Circumstance Distress: They’re fixated on how the person died and are now terrified of going outside.
Check out and share this clip from the episode!