YAP, Inc.The Neighborhood Advocate

Ulster County, NY – When Raymond Samuels was referred to Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc., he was having difficulty in school with his peers, but once he was paired with his Advocate, he says his life took an entirely different turn that has now come full circle.

“My Advocate helped me navigate through toxic, as well, as healthy relationships,” Samuels said. “He also taught me how to be myself, while still helping me build my confidence to where it felt normal to be outgoing and personable.”

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.

Samuels is a former YAP Ulster County, New York youth justice program participant. He has since graduated high school, enrolled in community college, became a YAP Advocate and has been promoted to administrative manager. YAP Ulster County provides justice and child welfare program to youth ages 11-22 with wraparound support known as YAPWRAP® in which they and their families are provided with resources and support.

“From participant to Advocate has been possibly the largest full circle moment of my life as of yet,” Samuels said. “As a former YAP participant, I have always capitalized on what the program has had to offer me.”

Additionally, eligible current and former program participants, along with their parents/guardians, can apply for the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund Scholarship for Continuing Education, which provides $1,200 for tuition and fees or a laptop computer. Samuels now has a laptop thanks to the scholarship fund that will come in handy while attending Dutchess Community College where he is majoring in social work.

“My career goal has always been to help at-risk youth realize there is always a way to win the game regardless of the cards dealt,” said Samuels who grew up in foster care. “As I am still relatively young, I find myself constantly learning alongside the youth I work with; in addition to providing the advice I benefited from when I was in the program as well.”

YAP Ulster County Program Director Jenilee Pollan who has known Samuels for seven years, described him as “exceptionally gifted at making others feel comfortable and always maintaining a positive attitude.”

“Raymond is an individual who shows up earlier than asked, works hard, and carries himself in a polite, respectable manner,” Pollan added.

Samuels thanks YAP for supporting his educational goals and helping to turn his life around.

“To move from a terrible past, you must make a better one over time,” the 19 year-old added. “I do this by consistently reaching for the moon, because even when I fail, I tend to land somewhere among the stars.”

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

Submitted By Kimberly Brandon

Harris County, Texas —Three students from Youth Advocate Programs’(YAP®), Inc. Harris County, Texas Evening Reporting Center graduated with General Education Development (GED) certificates from the county’s Opportunity Center — a milestone achievement marking a transformative step toward brighter futures.

Now in its 50th year, YAP® is a national nonprofit is in 33 states and Washington, D.C. that works with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and other local and regional governments to provide community-based services as an alternative to placing young people outside of their homes in residential care or corrections facilities. Working with cities across the U.S., YAP® also uses its neighborhood-based Advocate and Behavioral Health youth and family services model to support public safety efforts.

The Harris County Opportunity Center, which offers vocational rehabilitation classes and learning labs for justice-involved youth, hosted the special ceremony in December to honor program graduates and to highlight their resilience and determination. 

“We are incredibly proud of these students and all they’ve accomplished,” said YAP® Assistant Director Nateyah McLeod, who attended the celebration. “Their success is a testament to the power of perseverance, education, and community support. I am committed to helping each student achieve anything they set their minds to because these students are our future, and they need the support of their community.”

In addition to earning a GED, John, Elisha, and another program participant worked with McLeod and her YAP® team to complete a 10-week, evidence-based Peaceful Alternatives to Tough Situations (PATTS) curriculum, developed to help youth deal with conflict resolution in a nonviolent way. The graduates also plan to apply for scholarships through YAP®’s Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education, which provides $1,200 for college or trade school tuition and fees or a laptop computer to eligible program participants and their parents or guardians.

John and Elisha have committed to furthering their education by enrolling in welding school, where they will gain specialized skills for a promising career in the high-demand field. McLeod said John was honored with the prestigious High Achievement Award for his outstanding commitment and exceptional progress, setting a remarkable example for his peers. Meanwhile, Elisha successfully completed his internship with the Opportunity Center.

“YAP® remains dedicated to providing youth and their families with the tools and opportunities they need to build sustainable futures,” said YAP® Regional Vice President Kimberly Brandon. “Through education, career training, and neighborhood-based program participant and family Advocate support, YAP® is making a lasting impact on young people across the region.”

Under the innovative leadership of Executive Director and Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Henry Gonzales, the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department continues to invest in programs like the Opportunity Center and its over two-decade partnership with YAP.

For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org.

Hillsborough County, Fla. – Sir credits his Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. Advocate with helping him understand the importance of leveling sports and schoolwork.

“He’s taught me about staying focused, never giving up, and balancing school with football,” Sir wrote in an essay he wrote as part of an application for the Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund Scholarship for Continuing Education. “The scholarship will help me reach that dream and keep inspiring others just like my Advocate has inspired me.”

YAP® is a national nonprofit in 33 states and Washington, D.C., providing trauma-informed services reducing the nation’s overreliance on youth incarceration, residential care, and group home foster 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 out-of-home placement.

A former Hillsborough County, Fla. program participant, Sir was paired with neighborhood-based YAP®Advocate Jalem Robinson when he was in high school. Now a student at Webber International University, Sir is one of dozens of YAP’s 2024 scholarship recipients.

“I’ve managed to keep my grades up while still playing my best on the field,” Sir wrote. “[Jalem] showed me that hard works pays off in every part of life, not just sports.”

Named after YAP®’s founder, the Tom Jeffers Fund scholarship is funded nearly 100% by employee donations. Recipients can receive the $1,200 award as tuition, job training/supplies fees, or in the form of a laptop computer. YAP® encourages current and former YAP participants and their parents or guardians, to reapply every year while pursuing their education or career training.

Scholarship in tow, Sir is pursuing sports management and wants to become a football coach someday, inspiring others just like his Advocate Jalem and his younger brother inspired him.

“[Jalem] has been a major influence on me since I have been in the program,” Sir wrote. “He helped shape who I am, not just as a player but as a person.”

Robinson said Sir is dedicated to his family, in addition to being a “compassionate individual” and “true leader,” whose selflessness and compassion contributed to his success on and off the field.

“His passion for football is matched only by his work ethic and team spirit,” Robinson wrote in Sir’s recommendation letter. “On the field, he is not only a skilled athlete but a natural leader who consistently encourages and motivates his teammates. His coaches and peers alike respect him for his discipline, perseverance, and sportsmanship.”

Sir said being awarded the scholarship is a step closer to him achieving his and his mother’s dreams.

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

Tarrant County, TX — When Alfred Anderson retired from the NFL in 1992 after an impressive eight-year career as a Minnesota Vikings running back, he purchased a GNC franchise. He also became a substitute teacher and a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer mentor. A few years later, Anderson saw an ad for a job that looked like an opportunity for him to fulfill his calling to work with young people facing some of society’s toughest challenges — an Advocate with Tarrant County, Tx. Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc.

Now in its 50^th year, YAP® is a national nonprofit is in 33 states and Washington, D.C. that works with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and other local governments to provide community-based services as an alternative to placing young people outside of their homes in residential care or corrections facilities.

Anderson learned during his job interview the difference between a YAP® Advocate and a mentor.

“That’s when I realized the YAP® Advocate job meant I would be working with justice-involved kids,” he said. “But I knew I could handle it.”

YAP® Advocates are trained to deliver the YAPWRAP® model, helping program participants see and nurture their strengths, and connecting them and their parents, guardians, and other family members with tools, including basic needs resources, to help them put their lives on a positive course.

“I told all the kids assigned to me that I had simple rules. No drinking, smoking, or cursing; and they all complied,” he said.

Anderson stayed at YAP for 7 years, almost as long as he played for the NFL.

Anderson grew up in Waco, Tx, the youngest child of five, in a Christian home. Playing quarterback, strong safety, and running back for Richfield High School, he learned the importance of discipline. He said that while he did not grow up with a father in the home, throughout high school, college, and the NFL, he had many mentors, including coaches, who helped guide him to avoid making negative life-changing decisions.

“As a kid, I dreamed of playing for the University of Houston,” he recalled. “But when I went for my recruiting trip, a couple of the players who picked me up at 8 am were drinking and smoking. I knew then that the University of Houston was not for me.”

Anderson decided instead to accept a scholarship to Baylor University, where he would play running back. He was later drafted by the Minnesota Vikings where he quickly became a fullback. He stayed with the Vikings his entire NFL career, which included two playoff stints, one of which included a National NFL Division championship game. When his time in the NFL ended, Anderson returned to Texas, settling down in Arlington where he had purchased a new home for his family. Today, Anderson is a father of three sons, two adults and one teenager at home, and a grandfather of four.

He said while some people expected him to go into coaching, he knew football was all consuming and no life for a family man.

YAP Regional Vice President, Kimberly Brandon remembers hiring Anderson for the YAP Advocate position more than two decades ago.

“Nothing ruffled his feathers; he had a very even-keeled personality,” Brandon said. “We had a high percentage of gang-involved and aspiring gang-involved youth in our program, and he had a great success rate with them.”

Brandon said Anderson used his church connections to connect families to basic needs and resources. She said contacts he met through his wife, a retired principal, helped him provide necessary support to help program participants reconnect with school.

“We did whatever it took, even made sure they had food in the house and other basic needs,” he said.

Anderson will be a part of YAP’s 2025 50^th anniversary celebration, which will include a Nov. 6 day-long 50^th Anniversary YAP Making Change Happen Summit and Awards Gala in Philadelphia. The following Saturday at the YAP national headquarters in Harrisburg, PA, the national nonprofit is hosting its 50^th Anniversary YAP Making Change Happen 5k Run/Walk and Food Truck Brunch.

Learn more about YAP® and how you can be a part of the nonprofit’s 50^th anniversary events at www.yapinc.org/50th.

Isabella County, Mich. – Former Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc., participant Emilie and her mother Katelin are both attending Kirtland Community College in Michigan thanks to the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education.

YAP® is a national nonprofit in 33 states and Washington, D.C., providing trauma-informed 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 or corrections. Named for YAP®’s founder, the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund scholarship provides $1,200 for tuition and fees or a laptop computer to eligible program participants and their parents or guardians.

Emilie was in YAP® Michigan’s Youth Justice Program after being discharged from a residential treatment facility in October 2024. The program serves young people ages 10-21 referred through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The unique YAPWRAP™ individual and parent/family wraparound approach provides program participants with neighborhood-based Advocates who empower them to see and nurture their strengths, guides them to develop positive goals, and connects them and their parents and guardians with individualized support tools that may include housing, employment, economic or behavioral health services.

“I have benefitted from [YAP®] because they have given me opportunities to do things I haven’t done before,” Emilie wrote in her scholarship application essay. “It also feels like I always have someone I can contact when I’m struggling even if I don’t always think so.”

Emilie and Katelin were paired with YAP Michigan Intensive Family Coordinator Emily Munsell who describes Emilie as “passionate, empathetic and determined.”

“My YAP Advocate is always there when I need help,” Emilie said of Munsell. “I have also gotten to do a lot of fun things with the workers at YAP, have gotten to meet new people, and it has helped to improve my social skills.”

Earning her high school diploma at age 15, Emilie’s goals were to get a job and prepare for college. She is currently a college freshman and although she hasn’t chosen a major yet, her interest includes social work and nursing.

“Since joining YAP, Emilie has shown consistent growth and maturity, taken full advantage of resources and support available to her, and demonstrated responsibility and a genuine commitment to making positive changes in her life,” Munsell said. “Emile’s determination to create a better future for herself and those around her is truly inspiring.”

Consistent with the YAP community-based service model, Munsell worked closely with the family, connecting them with basic needs resources. Along the way, she learned that the mother and daughter shared some common goals.

“We have benefited from the program by getting two new tires on our car to help with transportation. YAP has also helped with pointing us in the right direction to get help from different resources,” Katelin said.

Katelin is currently taking online courses in coding. Once she completes her degree, she hopes for a career and home for her family. 

“I know that with this being my third time in school, I have accumulated quite a bit of student loans but this will help to cut the cost of loans that I will need to pay back,” Katelin said. “In doing so, my family and I can start to get ahead.”

Munsell said Katelin’s resilience is remarkable and she is a role model for Emilie and her siblings.

“Katelin has faced many challenges, yet she continues to work tirelessly to overcome them,” Munsell said. “As a mother, she has taken responsibility of supporting her family and is determined to provide them with the stability and opportunities that she herself is working hard to create. She is currently striving to finish her college education, a goal that is essential to her ability to achieve financial independence and offer her children a brighter future. Katelin’s commitment to her academic goals speaks to her incredible work ethics.”

Guided by the nonprofit’s “no reject, no eject” policy, 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 the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement.

“I think this scholarship would help me because my family has not always gotten opportunities to further their education,” Emilie added. “These goals are very important to me because I know a lot of people in my life have not always gotten second chances like how I am getting.”

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

Mecklenburg County, NC – Current and former youth, their families, and staff of Youth Advocate Programs (YAP ®), Inc. Mecklenburg County’s Youth Justice Program celebrated five years of making a difference in Charlotte. 

“It feels good to have people come out and connect,” said Program Director Hope Knuckles-Perks, who was first an Advocate with the program since its inception in 2019. “I love seeing my families. Talking outside of work feels good, as well as having everybody together.”

YAP, a leading nonprofit in 33 states and Washington, D.C., provides trauma-informed services that reduce the nation’s overreliance on youth incarceration, residential care, and group homes and other out-of-home placements. In 2025, YAP celebrates 50 years of partnering with public systems to provide individual and family wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to out-of-home placement. The “YAPWrap®” model is also used in cities to help curb neighborhood violence.

The 5-year anniversary celebration was held on Jan. 17 at the YAP Mecklenburg County Youth Justice Program office on Regency Executive Park Drive. Youth created vision boards to show their 5-year plans they have for their lives. The program partners with the court system – where through referrals – program participants are matched with a neighborhood-based YAP Advocate who champions for them and connects them and their families with individualized economic, educational and emotional tools and resources that guide them to achieve their goals.

Advocate Donta’ Fuller has worked with six youth since he was hired four years ago.

“It’s all about helping kids; being there to offer support and be a resource for them,” Fuller said. “I enjoy helping them through whatever conflicts or challenges they have in their lives. I’m most proud of working with youth and getting them to participate in different activities like horse lessons, bakery and photography classes.”

Unfortunately, Fuller said two of his program participants were murdered six months apart in October 2021 and March 2022. They were ages 15 and 17 when they died. 

“I still think about them all the time,” Fuller said. “With the support of YAP, Hope and outside support, I was able to move forward and push through to be able to continue to work.”

Like Fuller, Advocates Gary Alsup and Burrell Artiste say giving back through YAP is fulfilling and important to them. 

“I grew up in a neighborhood that had a community center, that did a lot for kids and I just want to extend myself back in some way,” said Artiste, who is originally from New York. “Being able to come alongside them and give them the right push and the right values, helps them to want to do more for themselves.” 

Alsup has been working with 15 year-old Nehemiah since September 2024. They attended the YAP celebration together. Nehemiah boasted that with Alsup’s help he received an 85% on his Spanish test. 

“[Mr. Gary] has helped me in different ways,” said Nehemiah who is a freshman at Julius L. Chambers High School. “He’s given me advice and sometimes the advice comes in handy in different situations. Mr. Gary is a good dude. He’s chill. He is a nice person to talk to and is good company.” 

Alsup said he is Nehemiah’s “safety net,” and he can call him when he needs. They see each other at least twice a week and workout, play basketball, go to the movies or do other activities.

“Any time there is something going on, he can call me,”  Alsup said. “Just being a constant in a youth’s life is important because in some instances youth don’t have that. They just want to know someone loves and cares about them. Nehemiah is a good kid. I’m definitely glad that we crossed passed paths.” 

Parents like Erica Perry are thankful to YAP. Her 16 year-old son was first referred to YAP in 2022 after getting into some trouble.

“YAP is a good program for youth because it gives them something to do, someone to connect with,” Perry said. “It gets them out of their comfort zones so they can try different things. It’s good for youth who are at-risk of getting in trouble. I am just glad they’re sticking around and willing to help my son. I really appreciate that.” 

Receiving support from families/guardians is imperative, said YAP Mecklenburg County Assistant Director India Harrison.

“It feels good intrinsically,” Harrison said. “We hope that we can continue to do this work. With the staff that we have and how are hearts are set up, every interaction that we have is an opportunity to show that we care. It feels good that every time we come to work, or when we’re calling people, we’re showing them that there are other people outside of their family who are caring for them and they are receptive to it.”

As for Knuckles-Perks, who has been an Advocate, program coordinator and now director, it’s the youth and Advocates who keep her going. 

“I’ve always been on board with YAP’s mission and I’ve kind of imbedded it in my life so I have no plans on leaving,” she added. “I plan to continue to grow in the organization. We are really making a difference and that is what is most important to me.” 

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

Yavapai County, Ariz. — Three Yavapai County, Arizona youths mustered the courage to stand before board members and leaders of Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. to share stories of change – from incarceration and probation to putting their lives on a positive course, educationally, economically, and/or emotionally.

A national nonprofit in 34 states and Washington, D.C., YAP is celebrating its 50^th anniversary – five decades of giving communities safe and effective alternatives to placing young people in detention, group homes, psychiatric hospitals, and other out-of-home residential rehabilitative and treatment facilities. YAP hires and trains neighborhood-based Advocates and behavioral health professionals to empower youth with skills to see, embrace and nurture their strengths. At the same time, YAP staff connect parents, guardians, and other family members to economic, educational, and emotional tools to help program participants thrive and give back to their communities. In recent years, YAP has also worked with cities to use core principles of its YAPWRAP® individual and family wraparound services model to help curb neighborhood violence.

“I was doing stupid stuff,” one program participant told the YAP leaders. He said he went from making what he called stupid choices that landed him in trouble, mostly at school, to being on track to graduate high school in a couple of years. “I’m more able to make decisions for myself other than following someone else,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to trade school or college.

Yavapai County Juvenile Probation Department began referring youths to YAP in 2020 after receiving a program startup grant awarded through the Safely Home Fund, a YAP partnership with Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform. YAP sustained Yavapai-County justice involved youth services with funding from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Title II Formula Grant. The Yavapai County YAP office serves additional youth and families through an OJJDP Yavapai-Apache Nation reservation grant.

“I wasn’t myself or who I was, or what I was doing,” 18-year-old Matreya told the crowd.

A new mom who brought her infant daughter with her to the luncheon, Matreya has recently returned from a youth facility to the Yavapai-Apache Nation reservation where she lives with her father and stepmother. She said communication issues at home were at the root of how she ended up in trouble and that her YAP Advocate Cami Pollard was a tremendous help in connecting her and her parents with tools to ease the strain.

 “We talk more; we know how to communicate,” Matreya said.

Matreya used her communication skills to get a job in the hotel industry and is looking forward to either growing in the hospitality business or pursuing a career in cosmetology. She’s also a budding artist and had an opportunity through YAP to explore art therapy.

“Art helps me a lot,” she said. “I like drawing flowers and butterflies.”

Like Matreya, Amilli was also in a youth facility before a judge and her probation officer sent her to YAP.

The connection strengthened her relationship with her father, who has grown closer to since returning home. She learned that like her, he struggled as a youth and had been placed in many group homes before he was an adult.

“Hearing his stories I know I get my strength from my dad; I look up to him where he started and where he’s at now,” she said.

Amilli said that through YAP, she is connecting with positive people and places and working to strengthen her relationship with her father, which is helping her see herself differently.

“No one should be ashamed of having self-compassion,” Amilli said. “Before I was like I was kind of just shutting out all my feelings and kind of pretending I care. I’m just thankful that I have all this support in my life, I have my dad but it’s good to build bonds with other people too and I’m just glad I got to do it.”

YAP Board Chair Teddy Reese was touched by the bond between Amilli and her father.

“It’s clear to see he’s the beat in your heart and that he came out and joined us today,” he said.

YAP Yavapai County Program Director Patty Delp works with local partner organizations and funders to keep the program going. She said the young people she introduced to YAP Board members and leaders are a testament to how YAP is changing the trajectory of the lives of youth, their families, and their communities.

“They’re the real deal,” she said.

Learn more about YAP at www.YAPInc.org.

Cook County, Ill. – Nineteen year-old Jaqueza remembers being presented with a holiday turkey in elementary school but did not understand the reason behind the donation.

“I was trying to figure out why me; I felt ashamed to receive that turkey; that experience stayed with me and became a turning point in my life,” Jaqueza said.  “Rather than let the feeling of shame linger, I transformed it into motivation to give back. I want to ensure other families could feel the support I once received.”

Receiving that turkey later spearheaded Jaqueza into collaborating with others to help donate to families who might otherwise go without a holiday meal. In 2024, Jaqueza collaborated with community activists/groups to distribute 160 Thanksgiving turkeys outside of Chicago’s Whitney M. Young Jr. Library. 

“The event was a tremendous success, with families lining up two hours early to receive a Butterball turkey,” he said. “In less than 20 minutes, all the turkeys were gone. I didn’t expect it to have such an impact, but it was incredible to see the families get what they needed. I want to make this an annual event and keep growing it every year.”

Jaqueza is a former participant with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP®), a national nonprofit in 34 states and the District of Columbia that provides community-based services that serve as an alternative to youth incarceration and other out of home placements and serves young people identified as high risk to help cities reduce neighborhood violence. The nonprofit’s YAPWRAP™ services model relies on mostly neighborhood-based staff who connect program participants and their parents, guardians, and other family members to individualized economic, educational and emotional tools to help them put their lives on a positive track.

Among YAP’s local tools is its Chicago’s Workforce Development Year-Round Employment Program, a partnership with Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS). Jaqueza is among youths and emerging adults ages 16-24 who are placed in employment opportunities that help them develop workforce skills in preparation for economic success and self-sufficiency. The program falls under One Summer Chicago, which brings together community-based organizations, government institutions, and other employers to match young people who might otherwise face employment barriers with jobs and internships that nurture their unique strengths. YAP Chicago was allotted 50 slots for the program and placed Jaqueza to serve as a youth engagement and safety intern with the Chicago Mayor’s Office. In this role, he was with the Mayor’s Office from September 2024 through January 2025 and was paid weekly through YAP. 

Separately, he served on the City of Chicago’s Mayor’s Youth Commission where he chaired the Community Safety Working Group. Currently in his second term, he continues to advocate for youth having voices.  

“I am working at YAP to inspire young people,” he said. “YAP’s target audience is at-risk youth, and I was an at-risk youth. It’s easy for any young person to be in the same position. Being a youth commissioner is truly inspiring. The current mayor really values youth input, and I love being part of that process. It’s rewarding to know that our voices matter.”

Jaqueza is one of six siblings and says he had no aspirations of going to high school or college until he was mentored.

“I feel like every male needs that positive role model,” said Jaqueza, now a political science major at the University of Illinois Chicago. “I didn’t want to go to high school or college, but I graduated early with all A’s and a 4.6 (grade point average).”

YAP Chicago Program Coordinator Melody Williams said Jaqueza is a genuine young man.

“He says he is about the community, and he has had several events to help uplift the community,” she said. “He walks the walk, and he talks the talk.”

Jaqueza said Amy Witherite of the Witherite Law Group donated 100 turkeys to this year’s turkey drive. Out of his own pocket, he purchased some of the other 60 birds and said he plans to be a part of leading the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway yearly.

“It was amazing to see the community come together,” Jaqueza said, adding that one day he wants to start his own nonprofit. “I hope the turkey giveaway gets bigger and better every year. One year I want to donate 5,000 turkeys. I am speaking it into existence. I want to create something that lasts; something that can really make a difference in the lives of others.”

To learn more about Jaqueza and his journey, follow him on Instagram @Jaqueza_ or connect with him on LinkedIn. To learn more about YAP, visit yapinc.org.

Tarrant County, Texas – Maja is closer to her goal of supporting young people with the kind of support that put her on a positive path, thanks to the Youth Advocate Programs’ (YAP®), Inc., Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund Scholarship for Continuing Education. Maja’s ultimate goal is to earn a doctoral degree in psychology and become a psychologist.

“Through my exposure to YAP and the resources it has provided me, I have noticed a significant increase in my quality of life and my tools for success,”  she wrote in her scholarship essay.  “The experience has furthered my understanding of the field of psychology and reinforced my desire to help others through my future career.”

YAP is a national nonprofit in 34 states and Washington, D.C., providing trauma-informed services reducing the nation’s overreliance on youth incarceration, residential care, group homes, psychiatric hospitalizations, 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 detention and residential care.

Maja’s essay was part of her second application for the scholarship, which YAP program youth and parents/guardians are able to apply for consecutively for four years. Named after YAP’s founder, the Tom Jeffers scholarship is mostly funded by donations from the nonprofit’s employees and is awarded as a $1,200 educational cost payment or a laptop computer.

“Receiving the scholarship last year has been a tremendous assistance to me and has allowed me to devote more time toward my education, community involvement and furthering my passion,” she wrote, adding, “The scholarship has also allowed me to seek mentorship from professionals in the field, which has caused me to gain valuable insights and guidance for my academic and career path.”

A former YAP Tarrant County, Texas program participant, Maja is a senior in college at the University of Texas at Austin who used her scholarship for tuition and fees.

“The scholarship has positively impacted me by providing financial relief and allowed for me to concentrate on my studies and actively participate in my academic and volunteer commitments,” Maja wrote.

With a 3.8 grade point average, Maja has taken on leadership roles in a psychology honor society as a volunteer coordinator, mentor, and president.

“Throughout my engagement with YAP, I encountered many compassionate individuals who consistently provided kindness and thoughtfulness,” she said. “Witnessing firsthand the amazing and impactful work that can be accomplished with a psychology degree has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities.”

A YAP Licensed Therapist who worked with Maja and recommended her for the scholarship said she embodies determination, drive and ambition.

“Maja uniquely stands out due to her commitment to YAP and the services offered to her,” the Licensed Therapist wrote.  “From the very beginning of services, Maja has been consistent in her ability to show up and show up well. It is obvious that Maja strongly benefited from YAP services due to her consistency and commitment to better herself and address the hard things in life.”

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

The Cincinnati, Ohio community where Diamond Rice lives and works is a daily reminder of her childhood in Baltimore, Md.

“A lot of the kids here go through some of the same things I experienced when I was their age,” she said.

Rice is an Advocate with Hamilton County, Ohio Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP™). YAP is a national nonprofit that delivers community-based individual and family wraparound services that give youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, education, and other government systems an alternative to youth incarceration and other out-of-home placements. In its pre-50^th anniversary year with programs in 34 states and Washington, D.C, the nonprofit’s evidence-based YAPWRAP™ service model, capacity building, and policy work make YAP an innovator in transforming systems to become more effective.

Rice first learned about YAP when she was 13, living in Baltimore and assigned to the nonprofit service provider by her probation officer.

“I was arrested a bunch of times for stealing cars, and I even had a gun charge. I ran the streets 24-7,” she said. “My older sisters and I were living with my grandmother, and she was overwhelmed, especially after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

In November, Rice represented YAP at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) 50th Anniversary National Conference on Youth Justice. As a panelist in the Breaking Barriers: Successful Community Programs for Youth at Risk of Violence session, she talked about her experiences both as a former YAP program participant and a current YAP Advocate. The panel was moderated by National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) Director of Justice Reform Dana Kaplan.

“My Advocate gave me someone I could call. When she came into my life, I saw myself able to exist in other spaces,” she said.

As Rice spoke to the OJJDP audience about the YAP model – how she uses it with youth in her work in Ohio and how she benefitted from it in Baltimore — she was caught off guard by someone who entered the room and took a seat in the front row.

“I’m trippin’; my P.O. who I haven’t seen in 16 years just walked in,” she said.

Rice said her parole officer was special, even took her to have tattoos removed from her face. She spoke of how working with her probation officer, her YAP Advocate filled in much-needed gaps. She said the Advocate worked with her and her grandmother and empowered her to see her strengths, like writing, and connected her to experiences that enabled her to nurture her intelligence, creativity, and kindness.

Rice’s probation officer, whose name for confidentiality reasons TheNeighborhoodAdvocate.org is withholding, said she was pleasantly surprised to see how far her former client had come. 

“I just so happened to go into that session,” she said. “I didn’t even know YAP was going to be presenting. When I saw her, I was like, ‘What?’ Just to see her actually speaking and being an Advocate, It almost brought me to tears,” she added, recalling how she fought hard for Rice and was grateful to have YAP’s support.

“They help you do your job. I can’t remember how I found out about it, but Craig [Jernigan, former Baltimore Program Director, now a YAP Regional Director] was at our office all the time, advocating for getting referrals.”

Rice said when she was working with her Advocate, she rediscovered her love for learning and writing. She started taking school seriously and accelerated, even moved into advanced placement (AP) English classes. After graduating high school, she began taking classes at a local community college, earned her Commercial Driver’s License certification, and worked for a few years as a professional truck driver.

Today, at age 30, after moving to Cincinnati, Rice is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work with many professional goals, including becoming an author. 

“She’s great,” said YAP Hamilton County, Ohio Program Director Nathaniel Lett, who believes Rice’s shared experience is one of her superpowers. “She’s handling the toughest kids and is really good at it.”

Guided by its “no reject, no eject” policy, 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 percent of the youth still lived in their communities with less than five percent of participants in secure placement.

Rice said helping kids like herself makes sense, that it comes naturally.

“I love my job,” she said.

Learn more about YAP at yapinc.org.

Carbon/Monroe County, Pa. – Since June 2024, Caleb has been keeping staff and families informed through Youth Advocate Programs’ (YAP) Inc. Carbon/Monroe County social media page.

“I make the posts for the Facebook page and do some other things around the office like weekly newsletters,” said 20 year-old Caleb. “I think my social skills have improved a lot.”

Caleb is a participant in YAP Carbon/Monroe County’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s MY Work program. MY Work matches young people with disabilities to job opportunities to gain work experience in their local municipalities.

YAP is a national nonprofit in 34 states and Washington, D.C. that provides community-based alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care, and group home foster placements. The agency partners with public systems to provide individual and family wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to out-of-home placement.

While YAP places most participants with business and nonprofit employers in Pennsylvania counties, the nonprofit found the perfect job for Caleb at the YAP Carbon/Monroe County office. Employment Specialist Tammy Keahey has known Caleb since October 2023 when she met him and his family during the program’s intake process.

“Caleb was quite shy when I first met him,” said Keahey who also described him as funny and genuine. “He would answer with yes or no answers and quick replies, but he was always curious and kind. After a few months of talking with Caleb and finding out his interests and capabilities, that is how he ended up working at YAP.”

Caleb, who enjoys doing graphic design, peer programming and making music, creates “Monday Morning Mindful Messages,” on the local YAP Monroe County Facebook page accompanied by an inspirational message or quote. He spends approximately three or four hours a week in the office doing administrative tasks and also works virtually.

“The Monday Morning Mindful Messages are to help people get through Mondays,” he said of the weekly posts. “They are quotes that anyone can take inspiration from.”

Additionally, Caleb creates certificates to celebrate employee work anniversaries, helps answer the office phone, sets up staff meetings on Microsoft Teams and has learned how to write a professional email.

“To attest to Caleb’s character, he drove an hour each way one day to the office for the first time by himself because he did not want to miss work,” Keahey said, adding that he usually gets dropped off. “That really shows his dedication to his job.”

YAP Carbon/Monroe, County Program Director Rachelle Antoine said Keahey and Caleb make a good team and she has helped him come out of his shell.

“He is an excellent worker,” Antoine said. “I have only positive things to say about Caleb. It’s been an honor watching him complete tasks. He’s taught me things on the printer that I didn’t even know we had the capability to do. Caleb is a sponge, so I know he is willing to learn more.”

Caleb also set up an office space that includes a candy bowl for staff to grab a sweet treat. His family has seen his work space and they took a tour of the YAP Monroe County office, which includes eight behavioral health technicians and three behavior consultants. Caleb is thankful to Keahey and Antoine whom he referred to as “good friends.”

 “YAP does a good job of helping people,” Caleb added. “It’s made a positive impact on my life.”

For more information on YAP visit yapinc.org or follow the YAP Monroe County, Pa. Facebook page.

Youth Advocate Programs’, Inc., (YAP™) Alternatives to Violence (ATV) West Boulevard and Beatties Ford Road teams spread holiday cheer during their Christmas Tree Lighting event on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 12.  Both YAP ATV teams decorated a Christmas tree, played Christmas music, and connected with the neighborhoods they serve and strive to help protect.

YAP became the city’s first ATV partner with the Beatties Ford Road site in 2021 as part of a partnership with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, using Cure Violence Global methods. YAP was chosen as part of ATV’s expansion in 2023 to manage one of two additional sites at West Boulevard/Remount Road.  YAP is a national nonprofit in 34 states and Washington, D.C., that provides community-based alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care, and neighborhood violence.

YAP ATV members are frontline violence interrupters and outreach workers in the Beatties Ford Road corridor and West Boulevard/Remount Road areas who provide intensive services for young people ages 14 to 25 who they’ve encountered through canvassing or have been identified by schools, community groups, the youth justice system and other referring partners as being at the highest risk of being engaged in violence.

From July 2023 through June 2024 the YAP ATV – West Boulevard team provided 23 program participants with wraparound support services which includes connecting them to employment, economic or educational resources; in addition to healthcare, legal, mental health or social services, had 62 violence interruptions, engaged with 1,255 key individuals, hosted 11 community events and 6 community meetings. The YAP ATV – Beatties Ford Road team provided 25 program participants with wraparound support services, had 20 violence interruptions, engaged with 1,462 key individuals, hosted 10 community events and 26 community meetings.

For more information on YAP visit yapinc.org.

Cook County, Ill. – Six hundred turkeys and 350 coats were provided to families on the first weekend of December thanks to Youth Advocate Programs’ (YAP™) Washington Heights Violence Interruption Team and the Service Coordination and Navigation (SCaN) program.

“This year we decided to host the Winter Coat and Turkey Giveaway after Thanksgiving to be a blessing to people in our community who may need help in between holidays,” said Washington Heights Violence Interruption Program Director Ken Lewis. “We also want to express our gratitude to our partners who helped YAP Chicago make this annual event happen.”

The YAP Washington Heights Violence Interruption and SCaN programs co-hosted the event at Simeon Alumni Village on Dec. 7 in conjunction with Project Simeon 2000, Illinois State Rep. Justin Slaughter, Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore and Chicago 21^st Ward Alderman Ronnie Mosley.

YAP is a national nonprofit in 34 states and Washington, D.C. that provides community-based alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care, and group home foster placements. The agency partners with public systems to provide individual and family wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to out-of-home placement. YAP also uses its unique wraparound services approach known as YAPWrap™ to help cities curb community violence.

The YAP Chicago Washington Heights Violence Interruption program, funded through a grant from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), provides violence interruption services, street and hospital outreach, crisis intervention, peace building activities, family engagement, individual wraparound services, and conflict resolution. The SCaN program, a partnership through Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), includes supporting youth ages 14-24 who have been systems involved or impacted by violence. The YAP SCaN program serves program participants living in the Auburn Gresham area.

In addition to attendees receiving coats and birds, residents were also connected to valuable resources, including economic, educational, and emotional tools, to support their success and help reduce violence in local neighborhoods.

Follow YAP Chicago on Facebook or visit yapinc.org.

Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc was a finalist at the 2024 European Social Services (ESS) Awards in Lisbon, Portugal in November, receiving recognition for its Community-Based Safety Initiatives services. YAP’s submission, “Addressing Violence in Cities to Restore, Heal, and Strengthen Communities” was shortlisted in the European Social Network (ESN) competition’s Excellence in Communities category.

Celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2025, YAP is a national nonprofit in 34 states and Washington, D.C. that partners with government systems to deliver community-based individual and family services as an alternative to incarceration, group homes and other out-of-home care. YAP partner organizations apply the nonprofit’s YAPWRAP™ individual and family wraparound services model in Ireland, Guatemala, Sierra Leone, and Australia. In the U.S., YAP has combined principles of the model with public health violence intervention and prevention approaches to help cities curb neighborhood violence.

The winning entry in the Excellence in Communities category was Confederation of Rural Development Centres in Spain for its “BIO-CARES: Community-Delivered, Person-Centred Care in Rural Areas” program. The program is transforming care in rural Spain by supporting older people with disabilities and those at risk for isolation and other vulnerable communities.

“It was an amazing experience to be among so many transformative organizations being recognized for their work,” said YAP Vice President of Community-Based Safety Initiatives,” who along with YAP Chief of Marketing and Communications Kelly Williams, took part in the awards event and program.  “We were finalists among over 100 organizations and programs in Europe. Having our community-based safety initiatives recognized internationally is a win for the field of work and YAP,” he added.

YAP’s community-based safety initiatives address public safety, specifically community gun violence in cities across the U.S. YAP Advocates-Credible Messengers, who are trusted community members, mediate conflicts, prevent retaliation, and offer individualized services like housing, health, and employment support.

The ESS Awards opportunity was coordinated by YAP Director of International Development Diana Matteson as part of her effort to raise awareness of the nonprofit’s work and to scale its model globally.

Serving as a panelist with other awards finalists, Fogg described how YAP’s community safety initiatives work adheres to principles of the national nonprofit’s 49-year-old YAPWRAP™ community-based alternative-to-youth-incarceration and residential care model. Williams was among the event exhibitors, sharing how through public partnerships with philanthropic support, YAP’s services reduce the risk of neighborhood violence in cities across the U.S. by connecting individuals at the highest risk and their families with economic, educational, and emotional tools to help them put their lives on a positive course.

“A big thank you to Diana for securing the opportunity for us to present in Belgium, resulting in the nomination for the Excellence in Communities Award in Portugal,” Fogg said. “Thank you to Kelly for hosting our table at the awards and for her networking. We had no left-over YAP marketing materials, and the annual report was a big hit.”

As ESS Awards program delegates, Fogg and Williams participated in study visits to social projects in Lisbon. The two attended Universo D – Os Direitos na Criança e no Jovem, an Education Programme for Human Rights and Values, which, through a participatory methodology and non-formal education, invites experiential and voluntary learning about the rights of children and young people on the way to global citizenship. Additionally, Williams visited Gabinete de Finanças Saudáveis, a support service for families, especially the most disadvantaged and unprotected, in their day-to-day financial management.

“Fred was amazing as a panelist, and. I enjoyed representing YAP at the event, learning about other social services first-hand,” Williams said.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott joined Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) Inc.’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) staff for a brunch this month celebrating the success of their participants. (Photos by Keston DeCoteau, Keystone Productions)

YAP is one of two nonprofits serving individuals at the highest risk of being engaged in violence, including people involved in social groups connected to criminal activity, those recently losing a loved one to gun violence, and formerly incarcerated individuals.

The gathering included program participants and their families along with YAP outreach workers and life coaches, many of whom live in the neighborhoods and share life experiences of those they serve.

Successes include participants securing employment, moving from homelessness to stable housing, rekindling family relationships, and achieving other personal milestones linked to reducing community violence.

Joining Mayor Scott was Stefanie Mavronis, Director, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement whose GVRS team – Terence Nash, Dr. Raymond Green-Joyner, Reginald Williams, Bernice Walker, and Joshua Lubin – who also received recognition from the YAP GVRS staff.

YAP GVRS Life Coaches and Outreach Workers honored program participants, highlighting the hard work they have been doing and milestones they have achieved as they make progress to turn their lives around.

Shawn

Despite attending several job fairs and enrolling in a GED program, Shawn almost gave up on his future. He was working in the streets to make ends meet while caring for his children when the YAP GVRS team came into his life. It wasn’t easy, but the encouragement and inspiration kept him hopeful — even in the face of his setbacks, like losing the job that the program helped him get when transportation challenges became too much. Refusing to give up, he secured a position with Clean Corps, and in just four months, earned a well-deserved promotion to Job Lead.

Javontez

Javontez was not at his best when the YAP GVRS team came into his life. Initially, he resisted help. For four months, the outreach team looked high and low for him without success. Ultimately, Javontez found his way back to us and began to take steps to turn his life around. He got a job with the Department of Public Works, where he has now worked for almost a year. Javontez has been on a straight path for a year and is a consistent, devoted father to his daughter.

Malik

When we met Malik, he was living in an abandoned house, struggling with unemployment and had an understandably difficult attitude.  Malik faced significant challenges. But what we saw was his amazing determination. With support from the YAP GVRS team, Malik has tapped into his determination and is turning his life around. For nearly a year, Malik has been employed full-time with the Department of Public Works. He recently took another major step toward his future, obtaining an LLC for his own cleaning business, Cody Solutions.

Tyzhaun 

Working with the YAP GVRS team, Tyzhaun successfully completed the NCIA Trade School, earning his CDL-B. And with that, he has since achieved significant personal milestones—securing his own home, his own car, and excelling as a dedicated father. And rather than using his commercial license simply to drive for a job, Tyzhaun took it a step further by launching his own commercial driving school.

Bakari

At age 15, Bakari has demonstrated exceptional personal growth and persistence. After having last attended public school in elementary school, Bakari’s journey back to education has been nothing short of inspiring. Working closely with our team, Bakari enrolled in a Baltimore City Public School and is receiving our wraparound services designed to gradually push him beyond his comfort zone. Despite being out of school for years, Bakari has adapted and is thriving. He holds himself accountable for his actions, which speaks volumes about his character and development. He has attended school every single day since his return, showing his commitment to a brighter future.

Dewayne

Dewayne lost many loved ones to gun violence and spent years cycling in and out of prison. Upon his last release, he was unemployed, and nearly homeless, with a history of working in the streets to survive. I’m proud to say he accepted our services and is thriving.

Teonta

Before connecting with the YAP GVRS team, Teonta struggled with inconsistent income due to a job with irregular hours. He also faced challenges with focus and emotional regulation. Through the support of YAP GVRS, Teonta has secured full-time employment and is focused on his strengths and his potential. Teonta is now working toward earning his GED and reinstating his driver’s license and he has developed effective strategies for managing his emotions. When anger or frustration arises, instead of reacting impulsively, he reaches out to his YAP Life Coach to talk through his feelings and make thoughtful decisions. Teonta maintained perfect attendance during his first month on his job and in addition to preparing for his GED, he aims to obtain his CDL and pursue his creative passions in art and mechanics.

Ayanna

At age 20, after experiencing much trauma, including being a gun violence victim, Ayanna worked hard throughout summer school to earn her diploma. She knew it would be the key to pursuing her dream of becoming a CNA/GNA and preparing her for adulthood. With the help of her YAP GVRS Life Coach, Ayanna applied for a CNA/GNA certification program and registered for a driver’s ed class. While she wasn’t accepted into the certification program on her first try, she is preparing to re-apply in January 2025. In the meantime, she passed her driver education class and is set to take her driving test next month.

Her future is bright as she looks forward to completing her CNA/GNA certification and working in the medical field, where she hopes to better care for her mother and family.

Isaiah

Since getting with the YAP GVRS team, Isaiah has shown great commitment to building a successful career and future. With a high school diploma, a CDL-A, and two years of specialized training from ABC Trade Academy, Isaiah has embraced every opportunity for growth. With the support of the YAP GVRS team, he secured a position in an Apprenticeship program through ABC Trade Academy and is now working at Fort Meade military base, gaining valuable experience in electrical work. Isaiah’s next goal is to find independent housing as he builds a strong foundation for his future.

Antiwan

Antinwan was 21 a couple of years ago when the YAP GVRS team first reached out to him. By then, he’d been involved with so many programs that did not work out for him, that he had little faith in this new one. He avoided us for a year, and it took a minute for him to set, let alone, achieve goals.

While Antiwan had a temper, I always saw his heart and his determination; and I was persistent; and he finally gave in. In the past four months, this young man has made great progress, successfully passing his driver’s permit exam, completing driving school, securing employment with DPW, and passing the MVA road test to obtain his provisional driver’s license. With determination as his superpower, Antiwan is making strides towards the positivity that he’s creating for his life. Congratulations, Antiwan.

Jaylen

Jaylen has endured a lot of trauma, including being a victim of gun violence. He was extremely discouraged and almost gave up after a dirty urine test resulted in him being released from Job Corps. His YAP GVRS life coach helped him see that the strengths that got him into Job Corps still existed; and that he could reach all his individualized service plan goals on his own. With support from his life coach, Teshombae, Jaylen enrolled in high school and he’s on track to graduate in June 2025. He also recently got his learner’s permit and will enroll in driving school in December. Jaylen is happy, feels safe and says he’s not sure where he’d be without the YAP GVRS team and his life coach.

Learn more about YAP at www.yapinc.org.

Philadelphia County, Pa. – In the early 1990s, Germantown High School senior Phaedra Anderson faced attempted murder for jumping a girl with a shoe.

“I was in the street, getting into fights a lot and shoplifting,” Anderson said. I didn’t really have a strong support system at home. My home environment was horrible.”

A judge lowered her charges, put her on house arrest for a year and sent her to Youth Advocate Programs (YAP™), Inc., in Philadelphia where she was connected with a neighborhood-based Advocate who supported and believed in her.

“My Advocate came by at least a few times a week and would help me with my homework and encourage me,” Anderson said. “I did not have any discipline or self-control, but she saw the good in me. I wasn’t a bad child, I just needed to be redirected.”

YAP is a national nonprofit in 34 states and Washington, D.C. that provides community-based alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care, and group home foster placements. The agency partners with public systems to provide individual and family wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to out-of-home placement. YAP also uses its unique wraparound services approach known as YAPWrap™ to help cities curb community violence.

“I thank God for the judge’s mercy and for advocating for me when I couldn’t advocate for myself,” Anderson said. “I was facing attempted murder charges without a lawyer. I had a public defender who didn’t care about throwing a little Black girl under the bus. I could have just now been getting out of prison at my age. I could have spent my life in prison for a mistake.”

YAP neighborhood based-Advocates support program participants by connecting them and their parents or guardians and other family members with individualized economic, emotional and educational tools. Anderson said her Advocate attended her prom, cheered her on, showed up for her, and made an overall investment in her in well-being.

With the help of her Advocate, Anderson finished high school on time by going to summer school, night school and attending school during the day. Anderson said after completing the YAP program, she went to college, but struggled in early adulthood, before finally settling down and leaving her past behind her.

“I did go to college but then I found myself right back in the street life and I was in the same environment,” she added. “I was selling drugs. I was involved in shootouts. I was throwing my life a way. The last shootout I was involved in, I decided would be my last.”

Anderson said during that time, some of her friends ended up stripping, prostituting, selling drugs or have been in-and-out of prison. Anderson, now 47, is a minister, advocate for homeless women and children, and writer; is thankful for another chance.

“I get to speak to young girls about making the right decisions. I am what I didn’t have as a young woman and little girl,” Anderson said. “I wouldn’t have had the ability to change my life around had I been punished differently. I am not the person that I was then. I am not that person now.”

Anderson said it takes a village to support youth and she owes a lot to her YAP Advocate as well as the judge who reduced her charges.

“I am grateful and thankful that this program is still going strong,” she said about YAP. “YAP truly blessed my heart. If I could tell young girls anything, it’s that if you make a mistake try to make it in pencil and not pen. Be mindful of the influences around you and find God early.”

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

Sedgwick County, Kansas – Refusing to speak and behind in her schoolwork – it wasn’t until the third time that former program participant Andrea was connected to Youth Advocate Programs (YAP™), Inc. in Sedgwick County, Kansas – that she opened up and began to flourish.

Andrea is one of approximately 20 youth in the youth justice program and one of two who were child welfare participants assigned to YAP as an alternative to group home placement. Many of the young people are homeless, couch surfing or even sleeping in social services offices.

Kansas Program Director Vanessa Alexander said Andrea started out rebellious, refusing to speak to staff and was behind academically.

“However, with patience and persistence, YAP staff were able to start bringing Andrea out of her shell,” Alexander said. “Within 30 days, Andrea was engaging and meeting her hours. Within 60 days, Andrea was assigned to a YAP Supported Work site where she amazed her foster care team, probation officer, and YAP workers with her strong work ethic and performance on the job. Within 90 days, YAP had helped identify a kinship placement for Andrea, who had been ‘bouncing’ from place to place daily within the foster system, carrying everything she owned in backpacks everywhere she went. We are excited to see where this youth who came to YAP lost, homeless and hopeless, goes in the future.”

She was paired with YAP Administrative Manager Debra Arnett who served as her Advocate who was patient with her and eventually gained her trust. It took 30 days before she opened up, Arnett recalls.

“Andrea just flat out refused services before,” Arnett said in reference to the first two times she was referred to YAP. “I think some of it this time around is that she’s just tired and really wants help. Her biggest barrier has been trust. She’s been in foster care since she was 4 years-old. People always promised her things that they didn’t deliver.”

However, Arnett was able to deliver, by offering YAP’s wraparound services – known as YAPWrap™ support – and care to Andrea by letting her know she was safe with her. YAP’s evidence-based model is centered in delivering culturally and linguistically responsive services by hiring neighborhood-based Advocates and mobile behavioral health professionals trained in empowering young people with tools to see and nurture their strengths.

Since August, Arnett has been Andrea’s YAP neighborhood based-Advocate who supports her with individualized economic, emotional and educational tools to help set her on a path to success.

YAP is a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C. that provides community based alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care, and group home foster placements. The agency partners with public systems to provide community-based and behavioral health services as an alternative to out-of-home placement. YAP also uses its unique wraparound services approach to help cities curb community violence.

“In the past [Andrea] was combative and aggressive. I’ve been working with her and I had faith in her. I think that is where I got Andrea to open up,” Arnett said. “She didn’t really take care of herself and looked depressed. Once we started engaging, she started doing her hair and her nails. She did that on her own.”

The 18 year-old is also doing well in school and is on track to graduate in December. She works at a movie theater taking tickets, at the concession stand, and helping to clean up, thanks to YAP Supported Work, a YAP service where program participants are matched with employers close to home in fields that align with their interests and strengths. The hope is that the paid employment turns into a permanent job.

“When she first started working there she was good at all aspects of her job but was closed off to customers,” Arnett said. “Now they say she’s come out of her shell and is amazing at her job. We have not had one issue with her.”

Arnett, a former social worker, couldn’t be happier to see Andrea become confident and hopeful.

“In other jobs you plant seeds and you don’t always get to see the benefits of it,” she said, adding, “but with YAP you get to see the fruits of your labor. At YAP you get to plant the seeds and get to see them grow. You get to meet kids where they are.”

To learn more about YAP, visit yapinc.org or follow the organization on X at @YAPInc.

Cook County, Ill. – Hoping to be a part of the solution in helping youth and families and reduce crime in his home country, Justin Jarvis took a fellowship with Youth Advocate Programs (YAP™), Inc., in Chicago where he is learning what makes the nearly 50 year-old organization unique.

“If we could adopt and implement some of YAP’s policies, I could guarantee that my country would see a decrease in youth crimes and incarceration,” Jarvis, 28, said. “There is no program like YAP in my country.”

YAP is a national nonprofit in 35 states and the District of Columbia with an international footprint that delivers community-based services as an alternative to youth incarceration, residential care, and neighborhood violence.

Jarvis has been working alongside Chicago’s youth justice and violence intervention programs where YAP Advocates and outreach workers are trained to empower program participants to see their strengths while connecting them and their families to wraparound services known as YAPWrap™ that include individualized educational, economic, and emotional tools to help them achieve their goals.

Jarvis, a Trinidad and Tobago native, has been in the Windy City since August and will stay until December through an exchange program with IREX Community Solutions, a professional development initiative that enhances leaders ages 26-39 with additional skills to address social, environmental, political and other issues in their local communities. The Community Solutions Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX.

“I love the wraparound approach,” Jarvis said. “The mere fact that you are engaging not just the individual, but also their families, and to an extent their community too; is a good thing. I come from a small nation. We came up on the term that ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ The entire community is that family. I like seeing that concept at YAP.”

By providing unbiased support, Jarvis said he has seen YAP staff provide program participants with unconditional love and caring by showing up to their court dates, athletic or other school activities, and being available for youth whenever they are needed.

“YAP Advocates invest their time and resources in young people,” Jarvis said, adding, “people are taking time from their lives to help others. That shows compassion and unselfish love. I have seen how staff go above and beyond to support young people.”

Jarvis said there are not many opportunities for youth in Trinidad and Tobago and jobs are scarce.

“Because there are no productive avenues for youth most of them become repeat offenders,” he added. “In my country resources are limited and we do not have many options for young people once they come out of high school. Careers are also limited.”

As a human rights, social, and environmental activist and someone who is active in his community, Jarvis said he can relate to young people who may have challenges or sometimes feel depressed. In 2019, he was diagnosed with vasculitis, a condition that causes white blood vessels to become inflamed or damaged. Ultimately it led to the amputation of his legs in order to save this life.

It took almost two months to receive his prosthetic legs. The experience led Jarvis to start his own organization – Foundation for the Differently Abled and Underprivileged Persons- with his family and friends to help others who may be going through the similar things.

“My family is not perfect, but unless you have a strong support system things can get tough,” said Jarvis who enjoys reading, singing and watching YouTube videos. “Every day is a new day for betterment, for growth and development. Even if you feel like you are stuck in one place. Allow yourself to feel what you feel, but don’t get stuck in it for too long.”

While in the U.S., Jarvis has had a myriad of experiences. At the end of September, he joined YAP leaders and board members on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. during the organization’s first Hill Day to raise awareness of and advocate for the nonprofit’s programs. YAP Regional Director E’Ron Leveston and Diana Matteson, YAP Director of International Development were also in attendance, both of whom he’s worked closely with since arriving in Chicago.

“Justin has an undeniable passion for youth in underserved communities. He has taken a special interest in learning some of the youths’ backgrounds and has worked to connect with them by learning their stories,” Leveston said. “During my time with him in Washington, D.C. at Hill Day, Justin shared his personal story and it was evident how invested and determined he was to affect change. I believe he will use his experience with YAP to do great things in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Matteson said Jarvis is a joy to know and learn from.

“Justin has not just made a favorable impression on the YAP Chicago team and national YAP leaders, he has created a community with YAP global leaders, sharing his unique perspective and adding to our YAP global knowledge base,” she said. “I look forward to working with Justin on how the YAP model can be introduced in Trinidad to strengthen communities, families, and young people.”

Jarvis’ ultimate goal is to return home and help to implement a program similar to YAP through governmental support or partnerships with other organizations.

“If we could adapt and implement some of YAP’s policies I could guarantee that my country would see a decrease in youth crimes and incarceration,” he added. “I got connected to YAP to learn about its programs, policies and opportunities. If I am able to help start this at home, it would be the first YAP in the Caribbean. It is something that has a lot of potential and young people can benefit from it.”

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org or follow YAP on X @YAPInc.

Multnomah County, Ore. – Since early February, Youth Advocate Programs (YAP™), Inc. program participant “Dee” says he’s seen a difference in his behavior.

“There were a lot of times when I felt like giving up,” the 18 year-old Multnomah County, Oregon youth said. “I was suffering and hurting. YAP helped me with my struggles; my anger issues, and [with] trying to succeed as a person. I needed help with motivating myself. YAP was there to pick me up and I am grateful. YAP is something else.”

A national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C., YAP reduces the nation’s overreliance on youth incarceration, residential care, and group home foster placements. YAP partners with public systems to provide community-based and behavioral health services as an alternative to out-of-home placement. In Oregon, since 2024, the agency partners with the Oregon Youth Authority to serve young people in various counties throughout Oregon between the ages of 12-24. The program has four Advocates.

Dee is one of 12 program participants in the YAP Multnomah County youth justice program where youth are paired with a neighborhood-based Advocate who supports them and their families with individualized economic, emotional and education wraparound tools.

Dee said prior to joining the program he was doing drugs and thought about revenge to those who wronged him. He said his Advocate helped him understand that his actions have consequences, which motivated him to make better decisions.

“I thought vengeance was the answer to everything. I didn’t trust anyone,” he said. “I didn’t want to open up to anyone. I thought it was my life and I could do anything I wanted until I offended. There are consequences and I had to learn that.

YAP Multnomah County, Oregon Program Director Will Hall has seen a positive difference in Dee whom he knew before he became involved in the program.

“He’s very open, you can tell he has a really good sense of humor,” Hall said.  “Dee is a good kid with a bright future who just needed some direction and I think he will do a great job with anything he wants to do with his life.”

Hall, who was doing probation work before joining YAP, said helping youth and families in his community has been fulfilling to him.

Advocate Eddie Bynum, who is not Dee’s Advocate but works with four youth in the program, said working with youth like Dee gives him purpose. Bynum said like many of the youth he and his fellow YAP Advocates work with, he was previously involved in gang culture and turned his life around.

“I was getting in trouble as a youth and once I hit 18, I ended up going to prison,” Bynum said. “If you don’t correct yourself as a kid, when you turn 18, they start treating you as a grown man. That’s why it’s important to reach youth. We have to be a voice for them.”

As an Advocate, Bynum visits program participants two to three times a week and can relate to the experiences they have been through. A California native who relocated to Oregon, advocating for young people has become an important part of his personal mission.

“A lot of what I do is trying to get them to understand what is required of them to be able to be back in the community,” Bynum added. “I am really talking to them, trying to help and sharing my experiences of going through the juvenile justice system when I was their age.”

Hall said Bynum has a great way with kids and is a beneficial asset to YAP and their community. He gives credit to all his Advocates and Dee’s who has helped him create a disciplined habit of going to the gym and working out throughout the week.

“Mr. Hall and my Advocate have been there for me,” Dee added. “They helped me with college and I’m about to get my permit and start driving. They’ve helped me a lot mentally more than anything else. There were a lot of times I felt like giving up but they would call me to get me out of my funk.”

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 the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement.

Dee starts classes at a local community college at the end of September and will complete the program before the year ends.

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

Charlotte, N.C. – Once a week for two hours 15 year-old Smith visits Shining Hope Farms for equine skills groups where he has been learning how to take care of horses and better control his emotions.

“I am feeling down sometimes until I see and touch the horses,” Smith said. “When I’m around them I don’t have to think about what I usually think about. Instead, I think about the horses, what I can do to help the horses and how the horses help me.”

Smith is one of 20 program participants in the Youth Advocate Programs (YAP™), Inc. Mecklenburg County Youth Justice Program and among six who are provided wraparound equine skills group through the generosity of the horse farm. In 35 states and Washington, D.C., YAP is a national nonprofit provider of community-based services that reduce the nation’s over reliance on youth incarceration and residential placements and also works with cities to help reduce neighborhood violence.

YAP empowers program participants by helping them see their strengths and connecting them and their families with individualized tools to meet their economic, educational, and emotional goals. Guided by the nonprofit’s “no-reject, no-eject” policy, YAP’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements.

Smith has been in the program since March and was referred to YAP through the juvenile justice system after going down the wrong path; but since he’s been working with Shining Hope Farms he has gained confidence, trust and responsibility.

“These activities and engagement also assist with social skills and development along with patience and anger management,” said YAP Mecklenburg County Program Director Hope Knuckles-Perks. “Smith has overcome his fear of horses and in this specific situation, it has helped retrain his brain to develop a more positive association with whatever has been triggering his fear.”

Smith was paired with two Advocates, Donta’ Fuller and Keri Thompson, both of whom spent time with him and picked him up from home and took him to the farm.

“Mr. Keri is different. I can talk to him and he knows what I’ve been through. He is trying to help me get a job. I needed someone to talk to, to keep me out of trouble. He understands me,” Smith said. “And if it wasn’t for Mr. Donta’ and his push for me to try new and different things, I would not have completed the horse lessons or explored other things.”

Thompson said he wants youth to know that their situation is not the end and that there is a lot more out there that they can do, see, and can explore.

“Things like the horse farm are things that we try to do with program participants such as equestrian therapy, cooking classes, the cycling program,” Thompson said. “There are several programs that we try to involve our young men in to help them reach their greatest potential. We want them to be pointed in the right direction and influenced in the right way.”

Since the YAP Mecklenburg County Youth Justice Program started in 2019, it has helped approximately 135 young people and their families. According to 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 the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement.

In addition to his dad, Smith knows he can depend on YAP.

“By building those relationships and connections in a different way and being that voice for my families is what it’s all about. I’ve always wanted to give back and help people,” Knuckles-Perks added. “I see Smith coming out of his shell and I am honored to be part of his village.”

Smith has started learning how to ride horses and hopes to learn even more over the next couple of months he has left in the program.

“If I need something, she is there,” Smith said of Knuckles-Perks. “If I need someone to talk to, she is there. I can rely on her. I want to keep going with the program, I like working at the farm.”

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.