Support our Justice Behind Walls campaign

“I’m afraid y’all will forget about me.”

These are the words of a 16-year old boy living in an institution, cut off from family and the people he trusts. He’s one of hundreds of children with mental illness, intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities who live behind the walls of institutions across Louisiana.

We’re asking for your help to make sure these children are not forgotten.

These children are vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and isolation. Most of them are not receiving the education, mental health services, or support they need and deserve. And they worry that they might simply disappear, forgotten behind these walls.

Thanks to supporters like you, we launched our Justice Behind Walls project in August to begin our fight for these children. We brought on Kellie Jackson, a dedicated legal fellow, to visit detention centers, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, and therapeutic group homes across our state.

Kellie is meeting with these children, understanding their experiences, and documenting the issues they face. Once we understand the full scope of these issues, Kellie and our team will work on solutions to address these injustices in a way that would impact all of these children and those who come after them, through policy change or legal action.

But, as Kellie has seen, there is still so much work to do. Every time she visits, she becomes the voice and advocate that these children need. For many of them, she is the only adult they trust to stand up for their rights. She helps them see that they have not been forgotten.

We set out to raise $20,000 by the end of 2024, and we’re nearly there, with just 25% left to go. Your contribution will have a direct impact on these children:

●$50 supports travel so Kellie can reach more children.

●$100 supports her time listening to a child’s story and reviewing their records.

●$200 helps our team collaborate on solutions that protect children’s rights statewide.

With your support, we can hold institutions accountable so that these children can receive the care and education they deserve in a safe environment. We want to do more than just remember them; we want to create real change so they can grow into healthy, independent adults.

Please join us. Don’t forget about these children. Help us make sure they are seen, heard, and protected.