In 1975, as an Edinboro University senior, William Wachob got an opportunity that would lay the foundation for his life’s work. He applied for, was offered, and accepted an internship with Jerry Miller, a pioneer in youth justice reform. Miller headed the Pennsylvania Office of Children and Youth, which after a court order ending the placement of children at the Camp Hill Adult prison, was charged with relocating more than 200 incarcerated youths.
“I would go to the facility, bring them out and take them where they had to go,” Wachob recalled. He would drive the formerly incarcerated young people to group homes, forestry camps, and to Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. (Youth Advocate Program or PYAP at the time), a downtown barbershop storefront-based nonprofit started by Tom Jeffers.
Wachob will share his memories of YAP®’s early years at the agency’s Nov. 8 50th Anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen Food Truck Brunch in Harrisburg, Pa. A YAP® board member since 2017, Wachob was one of the agency’s first employees.
YAP® is now a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, education, and public safety systems across the U.S. The agency is the nation’s premier community-based alternative to placing young people in trouble, in crisis, or who face other complex challenges in residential care or corrections facilities. YAP® also partners with cities to apply principles of its wraparound services model to support young people and adults of all ages to reduce neighborhood violence.
When Wachob completed his senior year at Edinboro, he joined Jeffers at YAP® as Director of Administration and Finance and helped expand services across Pennsylvania. Jeffers became a mentor to Wachob, inspiring him to go into public office. At age 25, Wachob was elected to the Pennsylvania State Legislature where he served three terms focusing on justice, welfare, and senior citizen issues. Today, he lives in California, where he directs the west coast office of The Campaign Group, Inc., a national media/political consulting firm with offices in Philadelphia and San Diego.
Learn more about the Harrisburg YAP® Making Change Happen Food Truck Brunch and the agency’s other 50th anniversary events at www.YAPInc.org.
