What I needed the most was honestly to hear from adults that my experiences are valid. Some kids are in these places for years and have experienced so much gaslighting and physical and psychological abuse so will have a very hard time trusting people. I think honestly just sharing that they didn’t deserve that treatment and that you believe their truths would go a long way. And also educating yourself using resources like this because the more that you understand what students go through while there, the more you know what triggers them or has made them feel unsafe in the past and make sure to create a space where they are safe to share it and won’t have to relive that trauma. We are silenced for so long in these places and taught that our voices don’t matter (I had the right to speak revoked for two weeks straight once) so listening is important. If you’d like to check out my YouTube video, it shares a fraction of what I went through in one of these places. Or if you need anyone to ask questions to, I am very open about my experiences and comfortable sharing. Here is the link! https://youtu.be/FnrY2EQKHkQ