Project SPEAK

Project SPEAK (Survivor Prevention through Education, Awareness, and Knowledge) was launched in 2022 to bring survivor-informed education about the Troubled Teen Industry into communities across the country. The program draws on Unsilenced’s network of survivors, advocates, and experts to provide trainings and presentations to professionals who regularly make decisions about youth care and placement.

Through both in-person and virtual presentations, Project SPEAK educates school systems, judicial officials, child placing agencies, healthcare providers, insurance professionals, and other decision-makers about the history and realities of the Troubled Teen Industry. These presentations highlight how unregulated institutional programs operate, the documented harms experienced by many youth, and the ways families can be guided toward safer, community-based alternatives.

The goal of Project SPEAK is to equip decision-makers with accurate information so they can make more informed choices about the care and treatment of young people. By increasing awareness and transparency, the program helps communities better understand the risks of unnecessary institutionalization and the long-term impact it can have on youth and families.

Preventing unnecessary institutional placement is a key step in protecting the civil, social, and human rights of young people. When families and professionals are aware of the risks and alternatives, youth are more likely to receive support within their communities, remain connected to their families, and access services that prioritize healing and stability.

Since its launch, Project SPEAK has reached thousands of professionals across the United States through presentations, trainings, and conferences. Audiences have included public defenders, attorneys, educators, advocates, healthcare providers, and national organizations working on youth justice, disability rights, and victim advocacy.

Organizations and institutions that have hosted Project SPEAK presentations include Disability Rights California, the National Center for Victims of Crime’s National Training Institute, Arizona State University, CASA Orange County, the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, and Partners for Justice, among others.

Interested in participating in Project SPEAK? We are launching our volunteer program nationally soon. Please submit a volunteer interest form by clicking on the button below to express your interest.