Somehow most of the girls in our group homes missed that experience. No one explained what wasn't safe, healthy, or responsible.
On top of that, someone abused them, tossed them aside, disdained them. Then they were blamed. Now they are angry, disenfranchised, out of step educationally, psychologically, and socially.
Now, we have an opportunity to help. How? A set of rules? A set of consequences? A list of "If you don't......you will never be........?"
We give them should haves, ought to be's, and a hope of hopeless predictions.
How about we stop all that! How about we extend a hand of welcome, a genuine conversation, conversations just because we want to get to know them. Some mercy, hopefulness, and human kindness would really begin to build a bridge so that perhaps they will want to give us a chance to know them.
Perhaps they will let us share our programs with them, and we will learn together.