Gloucester County, NJ – Over the 28 years that Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. Life Skills Coordinator Sarah Gross has worked at the nonprofit; she estimates that she has worked with hundreds of program participants and their families.
“I was barely older than the youth we were serving when I first started working at YAP®,” Gross recalled in a recent interview. “In the beginning, it was a job to pay bills while attending college, however, it became much more meaningful and rewarding as time went on. The youth that I had the opportunity to work with, especially for the last 15 years, has helped me stay young. They taught me all the TikTok dances.”
YAP® is a national nonprofit in 33 states and Washington, D.C., providing services that reduce the nation’s overreliance on youth incarceration, residential care, group homes and other out-of-home placements. Celebrating its 50th year in 2025, YAP® partners with public systems to provide community-based wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to residential care and incarceration. YAP® has served New Jersey for nearly 47 years.
Gross spoke and was recognized by YAP®’s Board Chair Teddy Reese and fellow members, YAP CEO/President Gary Ivory, and staff of the nonprofit’s Executive Team during the organization’s Board meeting dinner in Atlantic City, NJ in May. Gross was accompanied by current program participants Eniya and Gregory who shared stories of their time at YAP® and their appreciation of Gross. She said as the three of them made their way through the hotel to find the ballroom where the meeting was taking place, they stopped and asked for directions from a security guard.
“There was a young man there and he said, ‘Are you Sarah, do you remember me? I went into the military, and I was going through a really bad time, and the program really helped me,’” Gross said. “That is a blessing when you’re able to hear that because not all workers in this field receive that kind of feedback. It can be very challenging to work with the youth we serve, but I see the fruit of YAP®’s work and it is a privilege and honor to be a part of that.”
Gregory and Eniya shared the same sentiments about Gross as the security guard did. Gregory said she helped teach him about life.
Gross started with YAP® Gloucester County’s Youth Justice Program as an Advocate in 1997 while in college working with program participants who were living in shelters and resource homes. She also facilitated a YAP® anger management program. Today, as a life skills coordinator, she provides support to young people by assisting them to learn how to be self-sufficient through career exploration, post-secondary education planning, budgeting, housing, self-advocacy, self-awareness, healthy relationships, communication skills and responding to adverse situations.
The age population YAP® Gloucester County works with is 8-17 year-olds who have been referred to the program through the courts, self-referrals, law enforcement or other entities; and pairs them with a neighborhood-based Advocate who champions for them and their families and connects them to economic, emotional or education services in addition to overall life skills. The Advocates and program participant spend up to three hours a week together.
“For the two and a half years I’ve been with YAP® there’s been a trillion things Sarah has helped me with,” Gregory said, “from the talent show at school that I wanted to schedule or the extracurricular stuff I wanted to do at my school; and all of the regular teenager stuff.”
Gregory said Gross taught him about co-payments and worked hard to make sure other youth in the program had gifts to open for Christmas.
“She has probably been my favorite person ever,” Gregory added. “I think [Gross] is amazing and I love her. I like this program because it gives people what they deserve and teaches them about life.”
Eniya said before YAP she didn’t know how to regulate her emotions, didn’t know what she wanted out of life, or how to speak up for herself.
“[Gross] has given me the ability to have a voice,” Eniya said. “She has given me the ability to be my own advocate even though she is my advocate. She has given me the ability to have my own two feet to be able to walk on.”
Just recently, Eniya graduated from high school and Gross was in attendance.
“She is just absolutely amazing,” Gross said of Eniya. “We helped her apply to college and complete financial aid applications. She plans to begin community college in the fall and Gregory has been accepted to a four-year college.”
Eniya texted Gross, “Happy Mother’s Day,” because she said she is like a mother figure to her.
“Ms. Sarah [Gross] is someone I will remember for the rest of my life even when I have my own kids,” Eniya said. “I really appreciate the person she is. You guys are really lucky to have someone like her.”
Gross has kept the same phone number for years and still receives calls and text messages from former youth she’s worked with all the time.
“I love it when they stay in touch. I’ve had the same phone number when I started YAP®, so I still receive calls and texts from former youth who are now adults with children,” Gross added. “They are all doing really well. We know that YAP® has a very specific purpose, and we have to be intentional with the time we are spending with them by maximizing each moment by meeting their immediate needs, while helping them prepare for the future.”
Gross said she is thankful for YAP® and gave credit to the current and former colleagues she’s worked with over the years who have supported her and worked hard to change the lives of young people.
“YAP® has a deep, meaningful culture, especially in New Jersey where we hire people with the same goals, same mission and the same purpose,” Gross said. “It’s an honor to be able to serve people in this area.”
YAP®’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements. John Jay College of Criminal Justice research found 86 % of YAP’®s youth justice participants remain arrest-free, and six – 12 months after completing the program nearly 90% of youth served still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement.
Read more about Gross here. For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org.
