Recent reforms in juvenile justice in the Philippines have recognized the importance of family relationships for young people, especially those who have found themselves in conflict with the law. RA9344 emphasized the importance of returning a child or teenager to his/her family as soon as possible noting that incarceration was an experience that was almost always more destructive than constructive. However, one sad reality is that many families are plagued by problems such as substance abuse, domestic violence and involvement in criminal activity and, as such, do not provide an environment conducive to rehabilitation for young people. Bahay Pag-asa Youth Centers recognize the importance of family and look for opportunities to reunite children and teenagers in conflict with the law with members of their family, especially those who have had a positive influence on their lives. Some of the funds raised by Club Pag-asa and other support groups have gone to help finance home visits for residents whose families live some distance from the youth center. These reunions, even when brief, help reinforce positive family values and encourage residents to continue their education know that their family members will someday look to them for support and leadership in the family. Programs that hope to intervene in the lives of children in conflict with the law must, of necessity, begin to address the needs and concerns of the families of the residents. There is no more powerful motivation that I have seen in a resident of Bahay Pag-asa than that they might be able to provide for their parents, grandparents or siblings. Family visits are an essential part of any program of rehabilitation.
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