A young family member who misbehaves can lead parents to look for outside help. Parents are often told that the only option for their misbehaving child is to file for a petition known as “PINS”, or Person in Need of Supervision. Yet PINS can have long-term harmful effects on a young person’s future, including detention, out-of-home placement, and a permanent criminal record. While PINS is needed in some cases, there are many alternatives a family can pursue.
CUP collaborated with Community Connections for Youth, Inc. (CCFY) and designers Jeff Louie and Kimberly Lum to create Pinned Down? Rise Up!, an illustrated foldout poster in both English and Spanish. The guide explains the PINS process and its consequences, lists community-based alternative solutions, and provides advice on making the right decision for each family.
Pinned Down? Rise Up! was launched at a snowy Thanksgiving celebration for families and youth in the CCFY community. CCFY is distributing thousands of posters through their network of partner organizations, including the Bronx Family Court’s juvenile justice division, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Family Assessment Program, and in NYC public schools with high rates of suspension and arrest.