Editing Youth Guard (section)

===Background===
In the case Reed v. PRT, the parents of [[Reed]], one of the [[Wards (Inaugural)|Inaugural Wards]], alleged that Reed was not being given the time or resources to live a full and rich childhood during his time in the Wards. The PRT lost the case and Reed won certain rights and privileges, to be monitored by the same expert witnesses who testified on his parents’ behalf at the trial. They were given free access to the PRT locations and to Reed himself.<ref name=":0">In the Reed v. PRT ruling, the parents [names redacted] of Reed, one of the first Wards, alleged that he wasn’t being given the time or resources to live a full and rich childhood.  The PRT lost the case and Reed won certain rights and privileges, to be monitored by the same expert witnesses who testified on his parents’ behalf at the trial.  They were given free access to the PRT locations and to Reed himself.<br><br>Following the trial, efforts were made to reach out to and check with other Wards, by these experts, by journalists, and by volunteer outreach.  Many of these efforts were stymied or fruitless, especially when the organization lost their inside access with Reed’s departure from the Wards and PRT, and the original team of Wards scattered to multiple locations or ‘aged up’ into the Protectorate.  In a confluence of further rulings on behalf of new Wards, activist outreach, and fresh questions from media about the Wards program, the PRT agreed that the Youth Guard could act as a ‘separate but integrated’ organization adjunct to the Wards. - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bFLkNlycuTmRJIECK2K5od_3nyPp0koTGmKyzg_CQVM/edit Organization: Youth Guard]</ref>

Following the trial, there were efforts to reach out and check with other Wards by experts, journalists, and volunteers. An organization was formed, one which would become the Youth Guard. However, many of the Youth Guard's efforts to help more Wards were stymied, especially after the organization lost their inside access after Reed's departure from the Wards and PRT, but after further rulings on the behalf of Wards, activist outreach, and media scrutiny, the PRT agreed that the Youth Guard could act as a ‘separate but integrated’ organization adjunct to the Wards.<ref name=":0" />

The Youth Guard quickly snowballed in size, drawing from television appearances, lucrative charity drives and mass public support. They gained widespread national support, with Youth Guard bumper stickers, shirts, and ‘badges’ becoming a common sight across America. 68% of those polled said that they believed they were directly supporting the Wards program by donating to the Youth Guard. 62% believed they were directly supporting their local teams. As of 2012, the Youth Guard had an estimated 30,000 employees.<ref name="PRT" />