It is our belief that continual learning and knowledge sharing is a necessary and crucial step to empowerment.

Recent News:

• Points of Advocacy: Examining the Issues of Concern Surrounding Residential Programs for Youth  - Report used for a national gathering sponsored by residential program trade organizations, American Association of Children’s Residential Centers (AACRC) and National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) - July 2011

• CAFETY's Report on the National Gathering - July 2011

Transparency Project!

Human Rights

International Human Rights Law provides a framework where domestic laws fail to provide certain groups of people adequate protection against discrimination and segregation.  This is especially true of children’s rights and the rights of people with disabilities.CAFETY spearheads efforts to document, monitor, and report on human rights violations against institutionalized youth in the United States, and then publicize our findings through publications, community education, and direct action. We provide trainings to other groups seeking to use human rights standards in their work. We actively seek volunteers and collaborators for all of our projects.

Currently, we are analyzing data from our national participatory online survey on the residential program alumni/survivor experience.  Results from this survey will provide credible documentation on their experience, which will impact future public awareness campaigns and policy advocacy. The goal of this project is to produce use our findings to inform our analysis of public policy, applicable domestic and international laws, and issue recommendations based on our findings.

Research, Policy Analysis and Outreach

We aim to work with empowered alumni/survivors who wish to educate targeted groups on the issues surrounding residential placement and the successes of community care. We develop and design information gathering mechanisms and partner with other grassroots community organizations (ie. YouthMove) to implement study initiatives that support and strengthen our organizing and advocacy work.  Through these initiatives, CAFETY members and volunteers are given access to experts involved in the disability and youth rights movement, from child abuse and protection groups, mental health professionals, civil and human rights lawyers, and other leaders of this grassroots movement.  Participants are empowered to think critically, challenge stigma and are offered supportive resources to assist them in becoming effective leaders.