Youth Justice | Child Welfare | Education | ASD/ID/DD | Behavioral Health | Workforce | International
NJ YAP Celebrates 40 years of Strengthening New Jersey Families and Communities
NJ YAP, which at any given time serves 1,000 youth and families in the state, honored people who contributed to its success at an anniversary ceremony July 20, 2018 at Monmouth University. Nine staff members who have worked 20 years or more were recognized and some adults who as youth were enrolled in the program and now serve as advocates were highlighted.

Gerald Tirado, a recently hired YAP advocate, first became familiar with the program when he was 15, facing time in youth prison. Instead, the judge gave him and his parents the option to be in YAP.

Tirado’s advocate was LaQuan “Quan” Rankins, now his colleague, and the person who recruited him to join YAP as an employee. READ MORE

YOUTH JUSTICE
Philadelphia Hearing Presented a Powerful Case Against Institutionalizing Kids
Anyone who doubts that high-risk kids are safer in family community-based care and believe juvenile incarceration and residential facilities are the only solution should have been at City Hall in Philadelphia for the hearing on institutional placements for young people.

Members of Juveniles for Justice, an advocacy group of the Juvenile Law Center, Lilly, Hid and Qilah spoke courageously of the time they were away from home in institutions. They recalled difficult memories of being abused. They also talked about how hard it was to feel isolated from their families. Qilah said her home removal came because she was truant. “People should have asked me why I was late to school or not showing up, but no one asked me, they just took me away,” she said. READ MORE

Supporting Immigrant Youth Caught in the Crosshairs of the Justice System
The National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) produced a new policy platform and recommendations on how to best support immigrant youth who have been caught up in the justice system. READ MORE

Webinar: The Detention and Deportation System for Unaccompanied Minors
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is offering a webinar on 8/28 at 11am - 12:30pm Pacific Time to help advocates understand how the immigration detention and deportation system works for unaccompanied children.

YAP STATEMENT ON BORDER CRISIS
Since Youth Advocate Programs' founding in 1975 our sole mission has been to keep families together and at home in their communities with intensive support. We believe that institutions are no place for children and no place for families. READ MORE
YAP WORKS TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER
YAP CEO Jeff Fleischer was the guest on Adams County, PA’s Community Media of South Central PA (CM) station. Jeff talked about the history of YAP and the upcoming New Jersey 40th anniversary. Jeff describes the YAP model and towards the end comments on our nation's penchant for placing kids out of home and on separating immigrant families as well as those born here.
CHILD WELFARE
Advocacy to Stop Virginia from Building New Youth Prisons
We previously shared an op-ed penned by VA/WV Regional Director Valerie Koeppel in May advocating that Virginia invest in community-based programs instead of youth prisons. Valerie was responding to news reports about the state’s budget proposal, which included funding for two new youth prisons.

A YAP mom in our Roanoke, VA program wrote this powerful letter to the editor supporting Valerie's call for investment in community-based programs. In it, Tasha Eaton, mom to seven kids from the foster care system, illustrates how YAP has provided her children with tools that have empowered them individually and reinforced their family foundation.

Ultimately, the budget preserved funding to continue developing a continuum
of community-based services without providing funding for new youth
prisons, forcing the state to go back to square one in its pursuit of building any
new facilities.
MONDAY MARKETS
Youth from Lebanon County (PA) have been working on their gardening and job skills throughout the year to be able to share fresh grown produce with their community.

Every other Monday throughout the summer, they sell produce at the community market.
BUILDING YOUTH SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS
Ulster County (NY) included youth in their program's CPR training,  Nine youth ages 15-17 gained skills that could potentially save the life of a family member, a friend or even a complete stranger. Additionally, the CPR certifications that these youth received can now be placed on their resumes to catch the attention of future employers. 
Where We Work
YAP serves over 11,000 families a year in more than 100 programs across 22 states and the District of Columbia in rural, suburban and urban areas. 

EDUCATION: YAP'S ENDOWMENT FUND
Empowered with a Diagnosis and Support, Jenna Ryan is off to a Place She Never Imagined She'd be - College
They say the force of the Crimson Tide is relentless. Given all she has overcome already, leaving Sparta, N.J. to attend the University of Alabama makes perfect sense for Jenna Ryan.

“On an initial piece of paper outlining my grade history and academic achievements, I do not seem perfect, I may not even seem above average, but paper is only two-dimensional,” she wrote in her essay for the Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) Endowment Scholarship.

The essay described behavior problems Jenna struggled with throughout her childhood, including elaborate lies, tantrums, even hunger strikes.

“My issues only grew worse throughout middle school; from weekly outbursts towards peers, to visiting the principal’s office for impulsive decisions, followed up by countless lunch detentions.” READ MORE
NJ 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Stephanie Guzman (Ocean County) and Curtis Moore (Essex County) were two of the many staff who helped present a full day of celebratory activities and workshops for youth and advocates.
SHARING OUR MODEL & PRINCIPLES
A team of YAP leaders presented to stakeholders in Minneapolis about YAP's effective community-based programs.
AUTISM & DEVELOPMENTAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
YAP Partners with First Responders to Present Inclusive Community Event
"Community Come Together" day was held on 7/28/18 in Harrisburg, PA. The goal was to bring community members and first responders together in an environment where everyone felt welcome. The schedule and the physical environment was intentionally structured to provide time and space for those with sensitivities to feel comfortable and included.

COLORADO STREET SOCCER WORKSHOP
Program leaders from Colorado, New York and Texas participated in a Street Soccer training and then engaged 30 kids and their advocates in a workshop in Denver.
PARTNERSHIP RAISES $10K
Adams County (PA) and the Eagle Riders pose with the big check donation from the riders raised during a concert/motorcycle ride benefiting YAP Autism services. WATCH VIDEO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Harris County (TX) YES Waiver Program Holds Cure Stigma Mental Health Awareness Carnival
To promote Mental Health Awareness during the month of May, YAP's YES Waiver program in Harris County, TX held a "Cure Stigma" carnival for youth and families. The event had lots of activities, food, and entertainment, but also included a speaker from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Recognizing our own internal judgements and biases is the first step in curing stigma and participants received a "Know Knowledge, Not Stigma" backpack filled with supplies and coping tools.  READ MORE
YAP Film: Safely Home
"Safely Home" showcases the power of the YAP model across diverse geographies and demographics by sharing the stories of youth and staff in three different YAP locations: urban Chicago, Orange County, NY, and rural Louisiana.  
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Connecting Youth to the World of Work
On July 10, DC YAP held their first YAPWorx Career Day. YAP's program in Washington DC is participating in Opportunity Connections Summer, a 6-week program that connects justice-involved youth to people in the workforce.

Youth prepared questions to ask local area employees and entrepreneurs to help them understand the skills needed and expectations required for a wide range of jobs. READ MORE
WALKER COUNTY (AL) #REDCOUCH
Our program in Walker County AL has received incredible support from the community. Each time someone stops by with a donation, they sit for a photo op on the office's red couch.
EMPLOYEE 10,000 STEP CHALLENGE
YAP employees participated in a 6-week step challenge where they competed against each other individually and in teams against other offices.
INTERNATIONAL
From the Frontlines in Guatemala: Help us build our communities to keep families safe and together

Diana Matteson, YAP Director of International Programs, speaks about YAP's experience working with Guatemalan children and the situations that lead families to flee in this post from June.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATION
Members of St. Lawrence County (NY) participated in a Youth in Custody Certification Program to help leaders implement or accelerate systemic change to improve outcomes for youth in post-adjudication custody.
CREATING POSITIVE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Leaders from programs across the country convened in Harrisburg in June for a New Director Training. The team learned about how to create a positive, supportive environment to help recruit and retain a passionate, engaged team.