YABPa Youth Advisory Board

Mission: The mission of the Pennsylvania Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is to educate, advocate, and form partnerships to create positive change in the child welfare system.

Membership: Youth and alumni of the child welfare system ages 16 to 21 are elected from regional boards as officers.

Meetings: Regional YABs and the Statewide YAB meet every other month. The meeting schedule for the YAB statewide is listed to the right.

Philosophy: YAB members are viewed as experts and meetings are youth-led and organized. Consultants are appointed to each Regional YAB in a support role to help youth find their voices and teach them about meeting facilitation, action planning, and other necessary skills.

Structure: Local and Regional YABs funnel into the Statewide YAB. Each Regional YAB (6 regions – contact information for staff support listed above). Activities: Youth and alumni create positive change in the child welfare system by:

  • Training caseworkers, administrators, foster parents, supervisors, judges, and guardians ad litem on issues of importance to older youth and alumni
  • Developing recommendations related to policies and procedures affecting youth in care
  • Providing input to developing implementation plans for recent laws enacted such as Act 75 of 2015: The Activities and Experiences for Children in Out-of-Home Placements Act
  • Organizing community service events
  • Engaging in peer-to-peer mentoring

Select to open New YAB Brochure 2022


Below is a map showing the 6 regional Youth Advisory Boards around Pennsylvania. Each regional YAB is led by youth officers and at least one staff regional YAB coordinator. Contact the regional YAB coordinator if you are interested in joining your Regional YAB.

Select to go to Northwest Region PageSelect to go to North Central Region PageSelect to go to Northeast Region Page Select to go to Southwest Region PageSelect to go to South Central Region PageSelect to go to Southeast Region Page

 

Statewide YAB Board

YAB Project Manager:

403 E. Winding Hill Rd
Mechanicsburg, PA 17015
Ph: 814-572-9879

Meeting Schedule:

* All statewide meetings will be held in person with a virtual option until further notice.

Statewide Meeting Dates (10:00AM – 3:00PM)

  • Thursday, March 14, 2024
  • Thursday, May 2, 2024

 

 

 

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