Complicated Lives: Girls, Parents, Drugs, and Juvenile Justice (Rutgers Series in Childhood Studies)

Introduction -- Growing up in a "dysfunctional" family -- Mothers' little helpers -- Daddy's little girl: feeling rejected, abandoned, and unloved -- Looking for love in all the wrong places -- Doing drugs: the good, the bad, and the ugly -- Parents' attempts to intervene on behalf of drug-using daughters -- Property of the state: locked up, locked out, and in need of treatment -- Moving beyond the individual toward programmatic, systemic, and policy solutions.;"Complicated Lives focuses on the lives of sixty-five drug-using girls in the juvenile justice system (living in group homes, a residential treatment center, and a youth correctional facility) who grew up in families characterized by parental drug use, violence, and child maltreatment. Vera Lopez situates girls’ relationships with parents who fail to live up to idealized parenting norms and examines how these relationships change over time, and ultimately contribute to the girls’ future drug use and involvement in the justice system. While Lopez’s subjects express concerns and doubt in their chances for success, Lopez provides an optimistic prescription for reform and improvement of the lives of these young women and presents a number of suggestions ranging from enhanced cultural competency training for all juvenile justice professionals to developing stronger collaborations between youth and adult serving systems and agencies."--Back cover. Complicated Lives Focuses On The Lives Of Sixty-five Drug-using Girls In The Juvenile Justice System (living In Group Homes, A Residential Treatment Center, And A Youth Correctional Facility) Who Grew Up In Families Characterized By Parental Drug Use, Violence, And Child Maltreatment. Vera Lopez Situates Girls' Relationships With Parents Who Fail To Live Up To Idealized Parenting Norms And Examines How These Relationships Change Over Time, And Ultimately Contribute To The Girls' Future Drug Use And Involvement In The Justice System. While Lopez's Subjects Express Concerns And Doubt In Their Chances For Success, Lopez Provides An Optimistic Prescription For Reform And Improvement Of The Lives Of These Young Women And Presents A Number Of Suggestions Ranging From Enhanced Cultural Competency Training For All Juvenile Justice Professionals To Developing Stronger Collaborations Between Youth And Adult Serving Systems And Agencies.--back Cover. Introduction -- Growing Up In A Dysfunctional Family -- Mothers' Little Helpers -- Daddy's Little Girl: Feeling Rejected, Abandoned, And Unloved -- Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places -- Doing Drugs: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly -- Parents' Attempts To Intervene On Behalf Of Drug-using Daughters -- Property Of The State: Locked Up, Locked Out, And In Need Of Treatment -- Moving Beyond The Individual Toward Programmatic, Systemic, And Policy Solutions. Vera Lopez. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 207-222) And Index. Winner of the 2019 Intersectional Book Award from the American Society of Criminology's Division on Women & Crime​ Complicated Lives focuses on the lives of sixty-five drug-using girls in the juvenile justice system (living in group homes, a residential treatment center, and a youth correctional facility) who grew up in families characterized by parental drug use, violence, and child maltreatment. Vera Lopez situates girls'relationships with parents who fail to live up to idealized parenting norms and examines how these relationships change over time, and ultimately contribute to the girls'future drug use and involvement in the justice system. While Lopez's subjects express concerns and doubt in their chances for success, Lopez provides an optimistic prescription for reform and improvement of the lives of these young women and presents a number of suggestions ranging from enhanced cultural competency training for all juvenile justice professionals to developing stronger collaborations between youth and adult serving systems and agencies. Winner of the 2019 Intersectional Book Award from theAmerican Society of Criminology's Division on Women & Crime Complicated Lives focuses on the lives of sixty-five drug-using girls in the juvenile justice system (living in group homes, a residential treatment center, and a youth correctional facility) who grew up in families characterized by parental drug use, violence, and child maltreatment. Vera Lopez situates girls relationships with parents who fail to live up to idealized parenting norms and examines how these relationships change over time, and ultimately contribute to the girls future drug use and involvement in the justice system. While Lopezs subjects express concerns and doubt in their chances for success, Lopez provides an optimistic prescription for reform and improvement of the lives of these young women and presents a number of suggestions ranging from enhanced cultural competency training for all juvenile justice professionals to developing stronger collaborations between youth and adult serving systems and agencies.

Complicated Lives focuses on the lives of sixty-five drug-using girls in the juvenile justice system (living in group homes, a residential treatment center, and a youth correctional facility) who grew up in families characterized by parental drug use, violence, and child maltreatment. Vera Lopez situates girls’ relationships with parents who fail to live up to idealized parenting norms and examines how these relationships change over time, and ultimately contribute to the girls’ future drug use and involvement in the justice system.  
 
While Lopez’s subjects express concerns and doubt in their chances for success, Lopez provides an optimistic prescription for reform and improvement of the lives of these young women and presents a number of suggestions ranging from enhanced cultural competency training for all juvenile justice professionals to developing stronger collaborations between youth and adult serving systems and agencies.
 

Complicated Lives focuses on the lives of sixty-five drug-using girls in the juvenile justice system who grew up in families characterized by parental drug use, violence, and child maltreatment. Vera Lopez's work examines how these relationships with their parents contribute to the girls' future drug use and involvement in the justice system