A young person’s success in the community is linked to supportive relationships with family members and others. Because detention is inherently disruptive to those relationships, facility administrators and staff must ensure there are frequent, accessible and meaningful opportunities to maintain such connections, including those beyond the youth’s immediate biological or legal family.

Additionally, from the time of a youth’s admission, facility staff should view family members as resources and partners, as well as recognize the effects of detention on families as a whole. This means communicating continuously with family members and seeking their input when making decisions that affect their children.

This section also addresses the need for youth to be able to visit and communicate with their attorneys and other advocates about their cases, problems in the facility or other issues requiring legal assistance.