FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — AUGUST 12, 2025 — The children of Washington, DC, deserve better. President Trump’s call for the National Guard to control ‘roving mobs of wild youth’ threatens to undermine decades of progress in juvenile justice, endangering the lives of our young people and their families.
Youth are not miniature adults. Policing young people safely and effectively requires developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and equitable training and policies.
The National Guard has neither. This puts the Guard in an impossible position and our youth at risk.
We would do better to understand what American youth need and to address the more pressing issues America is facing: the number of children living in poverty resulting from federal budget cuts to nutrition programs, the reduction of educational opportunities, and the faltering job market.
Our nation’s children deserve better.
Statement of Lisa H. Thurau, Executive Director of Strategies for Youth
Media Contact
Renee Henrich – Henrich Communications
516-712-5877
renee@henrichcommunications.com
About Strategies for Youth (SFY)
Strategies for Youth (SFY) is a national policy and training organization dedicated to improving interactions between law enforcement and youth. By providing developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and racially equitable training since 2010, SFY aims to reduce juvenile arrests and enhance public safety, ensuring better outcomes for young people, police, and their communities. SFY’s 12 Model Law Enforcement Policies for Youth Interaction provide a foundational blueprint relied upon by experts and advocates nationwide. More information about the Cambridge, Mass.-based organization can be found online at: strategiesforyouth.org
© Strategies for Youth. All rights reserved.
Please sign up for our newsletter to the latest on Strategies for Youth’s efforts to create safe and thriving communitities for our children.
