Advocating for Residential Treatment: Boys and Girls Republic Alumni Take Their Stories to Sacramento

Boys and Girls Republic alumni recently traveled to Sacramento to share their powerful personal experiences and advocate for the continued availability of residential treatment programs for at-risk youth.

We are deeply grateful to the California Alliance and Jason Gonsalves for arranging meetings with Richard Figueroa in Governor Newsom’s office, Spencer Winkle and Megan De Sousa with the Republic Caucus, and Kelsy Castillo with the Assembly Speaker’s office.

At each meeting, alumni had the opportunity to describe the profound life changes they experienced at Boys and Girls Republic. They shared firsthand why access to safe, supportive residential programs can be so critical for young people facing unstable or toxic home environments—situations that can sometimes place their safety and lives at risk.

A highlight of the day was a Brown Bag Briefing hosted by Assemblyman Patrick Ahrens, where Boys and Girls Republic alumni spoke about the critical role residential treatment plays within the broader continuum of care for youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Their stories served as an important reminder that every young person deserves access to a safe environment, caring adults, and meaningful opportunities to change the trajectory of their lives.

We also extend our sincere thanks to the California Alliance and Jason Gonsalves for facilitating additional meetings with offices of Senator Menjivar and Assemblyman Jackson. These conversations provided further opportunities to educate policymakers about the importance of residential treatment and the lasting impact it can have on vulnerable youth.

Most importantly, we thank the Boys and Girls Republic alumni who shared their stories with courage and conviction. Their experiences demonstrate why investing in effective, compassionate programs for at-risk youth is not simply important—it can be life-changing.