Monroe County, NY – Former Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. participant Sean says his Advocate had such an impact on his life that he still remembers her fondly five years later.
“I saw her at least three times a week,” Sean said, recalling his time with YAP®. “She took me to a lot of places like the lake, beach and parks. Before YAP, I was really closed off, but my Advocate helped me a lot with that.”
In 2021, Sean was a program participant in YAP® Monroe County’s Child Welfare program when he was in the foster care system. YAP® Monroe County works with youth ages 12-18 who are either involved or at-risk of being in the youth justice or are in the child welfare system and provides them with an Advocate who supports them with development at home, in school, and their communities.
YAP® is a national nonprofit that collaborates with community and public systems backed by philanthropic funders to deliver four signature programs: Youth and Family Empowerment, Bringing Systems Change, Global Capacity Building, and Investing in Economic Mobility. YAP®’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements.
Sean, who was 16 while enrolled with YAP® and will be 22 years-old in October, now has his own apartment, along with being sober for almost two years. His story includes sexual assault, domestic violence and being sex trafficked. He suffers from severe Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
“I’ve been through it all,” he said. “I think it’s very important especially for kids who have the same background as mine, to learn what it’s like to turn their lives around, to enjoy life and learn life skills.”
Sean’s Advocate no longer works for YAP® and has relocated. To support YAP®’s policy and fund development efforts, Sean has joined the YAP® Alumni Ambassadors program. YAP Alumni Ambassadors is dedicated to former program participants and their parents/guardians or other family members who give back by speaking about how their YAP® experience empowered them to put their lives on a positive path.
“My Advocate definitely motivated me to look at bigger life goals outside of foster care,” Sean added. “I learned a lot from her in addition to what community resources are available to me and about communication skills.”
Through it all, Sean says that YAP® allowed him to be somewhat of a youth again through activities he was able to experience while in the program.
“I just want to advocate for others who may be going through something similar,” he said. “I want others to know they are not alone.”
For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org.
*YAP is using a different name of the former program participant to protect his identity.
