YAP, Inc.The Neighborhood Advocate

Hartford, Conn. – Tired of seeing children of color being misdiagnosed and misunderstood on what triggers certain behaviors is what spearheaded Veronica Maldonado’s life work of helping youth and young adults overcome obstacles to turn their lives around.

“I wanted to get educated and be a resource to families,” Maldonado said. “I wanted youth to have other resources aside from medication.”

Maldonado is director of YAP Hartford’s Credible Messenger program. She leads a team of five – an administrative manager, one full-time and three part-time credible messengers –  also known as YAP Advocates, who deliver services to youth justice-system involved young people in homes, schools and communities as an alternative to incarceration and other placements.. Youth who are in the program are referred through the juvenile court system. Maldonado and her team play an important role as program participants and their parent and guardians work through the court and rehabilitative process.

“I attend all of my youths’ court dates,” Maldonado said. “For a judge to see someone in my position advocating for them is a plus. It’s important for both the judge and (program participant’s) family to see my face. My phone is on 24/7.”

YAP is a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C., that partners with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public safety systems to deliver unique evidence-based youth and family wraparound services in homes, schools, and other community sites as an alternative to youth incarceration and residential care. YAP Hartford has served 16 youths and their families in 2022-2023. With “no reject; no eject” as one of YAP’s guiding principles, the organization accepts young people facing the most serious offenses.

“We have the hardest of the hard as far as program participants,” Maldonado added. “Right now, the violence in the city of Hartford is extremely high unfortunately.”

Born and raised in Hartford, Maldonado is a first-generation college student who earned a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees and has held several positions with other nonprofit agencies before coming to YAP when the Hartford program launched in July 2022. While in another role at a Hartford agency, she worked alongside current YAP Hartford Lead Credible Messenger Janita Negron for over a decade.

“Veronica and I definitely work good together,” Negron said. “I feel like she knows me well enough and believes in my abilities to work with the youth being that she witnessed it firsthand when we worked together prior.”

Maldonado and Negron and their teams have been engaged in heartbreaking turned inspirational stories that show the resilience of young people and how YAP credible messengers empower them. There’s the story of a program participant who was in a home where domestic violence occurred and he is able to deescalate situations that trigger him. He is now excelling in school and meeting his requirements for probation. Other stories include helping a young mother get a bed for her child and staying on the phone with a program participant who needed someone to talk to.

“I enjoy working for Youth Advocate Programs,” Negron said. “It gives me great joy to see people grow and learn how much of a positive impact I could have in their lives. Helping to save the future of our community is very rewarding and I take pride in being part of that process.”

Added Maldonado, “I feel like all our (program participants) are my kids. I don’t want them to be labeled.”

She said YAP’s reputation precedes itself with the organization’s success being well-known in the community.

“Our feedback has been good,” Maldonado said. “The youth are very engaged. Sometimes a lot of organizations in Connecticut work one-on-one with youth, which is amazing, however they don’t offer wraparound support like YAP does. Whoever is that positive influence in that kids’ life we try to work with them so when they’re no longer with YAP that support is still there.”

 As for Maldonado, she would love to see the YAP Hartford program grow to assist even more youth and their families.

“To work for YAP, you have to want to make a difference,” she added. “I think the work we’re doing is valuable.”“

She said program participants and their families are fortunate that the state made YAP a resource and that the state is grateful that the agency is available.

Learn more about YAP at www.YAPInc.org and follow the organization on X @YAPInc.

Chicago Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. staff members recently celebrated with the first young people to complete Chicago Public Schools (CPS)’ Back to Our Future (B2OF) program. Launched a year ago, Back to Our Future gives Chicago residents ages 12-20 who have dropped out of or otherwise disengaged from school a safe system of support to continue their education.

YAP, a 48-year-old national nonprofit in 35 states and the District of Columbia, provides services in homes, schools, and other community sites that give youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, education and other systems partners alternatives to incarceration and residential placement. In recent years, communities have also partnered with YAP to apply the nonprofit’s “no reject, no eject” unconditional caring service delivery approach to help curb violence. YAP is one of CPS’ three Back to Our Future service providers.

“CPS launched Back to Our Future, a highly intensive education reconnection and support services program, to reach youth disconnected from Chicago Public Schools,” said CPS Chief Safety and Security Officer Jadine Chou. “B2OF is centered around community-building. Our partner organizations provide these youth with a familiar space where they can establish strong community connections and receive access to services they need to get them back on track towards a successful future.”

As a Back to Our Future partner, YAP is there every step of the way, providing program participants with 12 weeks of paid workforce and skills development training, high-level mentorship, and life coaching, as well as trauma support. Back to Our Future participants also receive family support as the program empowers them with tools to reconnect back to the education system.

Back to Our Future participants are young people who have dropped out of school because of complex challenges that may include a history of chronic absenteeism, involvement with the youth justice system and/or have been impacted by community violence.

“We approach this work the way we do with all of YAP’s services,” said YAP Back to Our Future Program Director Monique Crisp. “We ask young people and their parents, guardians, and other family members, ‘What do you need? How can we help? How can we work together as equal partners? And how can you help others in your community?’”

In addition to earning high school diplomas and completing general education requirements, many of the program participants are enrolled in colleges, universities, and trade schools.

“This program is about meeting the young people where they are and giving them and their families individualized educational, economic and emotional tools they need to thrive,” said YAP Chief Program Officer David Williams.

YAP, in collaboration with BrightPoint, also partners with CPS to provide Choose to Change™ programming, which serves students identified as at the highest risk of becoming engaged in violence. Participants receive YAP’s youth and family services along with BrightPoint’s weekly Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) sessions. A University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab evaluation found that youth who completed the program had 48% fewer violent-crime arrests at the end of the program than their control group peers.

“By providing these young people with educational and other tools to succeed, we’re empowering a safer community for individuals, families and neighborhoods, which contributes to a safer Chicago,” Chou said.

Learn more about Back to Our Future at cps.edu/strategic-initiatives/back-to-our-future. Learn more about YAP at YAPInc.org.

Charlotte, N.C. – Members of Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. Alternatives to Violence Beatties Ford Road team recently returned from Buffalo, N.Y. where they visited former program participant Chance, a graduate of West Charlotte High School and current student at the University of Buffalo.

Chance said he went through some difficult times in his teenage years, but with the support of his family and YAP ATV, he was able to learn how to deal with stressful situations, remain positive and build himself up.

“(YAP ATV) helped me out a lot. It’s good people in ATV,” Chance said. “It’s straight good people and family…I appreciate everyone that is in ATV…they make sure I am straight and keep me on my toes. It’s a different type of level of support.”

YAP ATV Beatties Ford Road outreach workers Juan Hall and Larry Mims traveled to New York to support Chance in September. Chance was referred to YAP after he wasn’t doing his best in school. With the help of YAP ATV and the nonprofit’s wraparound services, he is now a wide receiver on the football team at the University of Buffalo with better time management skills.

YAP is a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C., that partners with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public safety systems to deliver unique evidence-based youth and family wraparound services in homes, schools, and other community sites as an alternative to youth incarceration and residential care. In recent years, YAP has combined our evidence-based youth justice and child welfare model with evidence-based community violence interruption approaches to help cities curb neighborhood violence.

The YAP ATV Beatties Ford Road program started in summer 2021 and is a joint effort between the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County using the methods of Cure Violence Global including strategies associated with disease control to detect and interrupt conflicts; identify and treat the highest risk individuals and change social norms. YAP is the area’s nonprofit partner for two of its three Alternatives to Violence (ATV) programs.

View an interview between Hall, Mims and Chance here.

For more info on YAP, visit yapinc.org or follow us on X at @YAPInc.

Monroe, La.  – Sh’Vante Williams will always cherish seeing young people get off drugs, get reenrolled in school and gain employment. They are celebratory moments that she has experienced while working at Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. in Ouachita Parish, La., where she now serves as Assistant Director.

“I had one participant who had 3-4 pages of charges on the docket ranging from a hit-and-run to other things; it was a lot,” Williams said. “But she just graduated from high school and is enrolled in college. I have another participant who came in with drug issues and she started off getting her GED but wanted to be in regular school. Right now she is drug free, has a job and is working on getting her cosmetology license. Things like this is what make me feel good; like this is what I’m supposed to do. I love being able to help young people.”

YAP is a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C., partnering with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public safety systems to deliver unique evidence-based youth and family wraparound services in homes, schools, and other community sites as an alternative to youth incarceration and residential care.

Thirteen youths, ages 11-18, are enrolled in YAP Ouachita Paris’s traditional youth justice program, which is designed to provide community-based services. Consistent with the nonprofit’s “no reject; no eject” guiding principle, YAP receives referrals from the Lincoln Parish Courts. The program’s three YAP Advocates and Administrative Manager (AM)/Advocate provide individualized support to program participants and their families, empowering them with tools to see and nurture their strengths while also providing them with services to help meet their basic needs.

YAP’s decades of service in Louisiana and across the U.S. 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.

While the Ouachita Parish program stands ready to serve youth with the most serious offenses and traumatic histories, those the team currently serves are fairly new to the youth justice system. In addition to Ouachita Parish, YAP Louisiana provides services in  Calcasieu Parish; Orleans/Jefferson/St. Bernard/Plaquemines Parish; and Rapides Parish. Among its services are designed to follow-up with community-based justice-involved youth to make sure they are safely home and attending school.

Williams joined the organization three years ago after leaving her former position as a mental health professional. She began her YAP career as an Advocate, then became an AM, before entering her current role two years ago.

“I get to be the voice for our kids,” Williams said. “I get to help them and that has always been my goal. Some of them think they have things all figured out until they talk to us and get realistic people who have been through the things they’ve been through and that’s what keeps me at YAP. I get to get up every day and do something that I love. I treat these youth as if they were my own.”

For more information, visit yapinc.org or follow us on X, formerly Twitter, at @YAPInc.

Note:  Brandon Lamar recently returned from Romania, where he represented Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. as part of the U.S. State Department’s Community Engagement Project Exchange (CEPex). Lamar serves as Los Angeles Program Director for YAP, which has programs in 35 states and the District of Columbia and partnerships in Australia, Guatemala, Ireland and Sierra Leone. YAP’s mission is to deliver and advocate for safe and effective community-based alternatives to residential care and incarceration that empower individuals, families, and neighborhoods to thrive. Last year, Lamar’s Los Angeles team hosted Alexandra Diana Gheorghică, a YAP fellow from Romania with the U.S. State Department Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program. As a result, Lamar became YAP’s first staffer to participate in the CEPex program, which was created in part to support CEE fellows’ post-fellowship community engagement projects.

By Brandon Lamar, YAP Los Angeles Program Director

I am pleased to share my experiences and insights gained during my Eastern Europe
CEE exchange trip to Bacău, Romania, where I had the opportunity to delve into the
intricacies of the country’s youth programs and culture. The trip provided me with a unique perspective on the dedication of Bacău’s community towards nurturing and empowering its young population. It also provided a perspective on how different our societies are and the potential development in Romania for the youth sector.

Bacău’s need for commitment to the development of youth programs was evident throughout the trip. I had the privilege to witness firsthand the impact of initiatives on
the lives of the city’s and village’s youth.

I learned a lot in meetings with Alexandra Diana Gheorghică and her colleagues at the Active Development Association (ADA), a youth organization founded in 2012 that aims to promote non-formal education and active participation of young people in the society at all levels. ADA focuses on youth empowerment and most of their projects actively involve young people locally and at national level. At the moment they have a project on youth spaces and youth centers, as the one in Bacău is no longer available.

The ADA team had already consulted around 300 youth with plans to work on a policy regarding youth spaces in the Bacău county. At the same time the ADA team is co-coordinating the European Youth Village Programme, which is dedicated to empowering young people from the rural area. The program has many facets, including supporting young initiative groups in starting a local movement, to national policies, and this year a first ever European Rural Youth Summit. Alexandra’s team explained that most of their funding comes through European grants and that they apply individually for each project. They explained that limited funding, and low employment affect both the lives of the youth and youth work in general. While they make quite the impact with a rather small team, they shared that for Bacău, the youth services sector is not as active as it used to be, with many activities revolving around theater (they have multiple youth theater groups). Most support for youth is external from the municipality and is based on projects grants, much of it from the European Union. The programs aim to provide skill development workshops, civic engagement projects, and cultural activities that showcase the comprehensive approach taken to address the needs and aspirations of young individuals.

One of the most inspiring aspects of the trip was witnessing the collaborative efforts
involving various stakeholders – governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations,
educational institutions, and local businesses – working in harmony to create a dynamic
celebration for graduating high school seniors. With minimum resources, Bacău city officials host many community celebrations and events. During my time there I witnessed a few senior graduation parades where the city celebrates the students as they walk from
their school to the parliament. I also participated in a few city-wide resource fairs where
city services like law enforcement, the fire department, and local businesses provide
resources that the entire city could take part in. Bacau is a close-knit city where people
support one another.

I am honored that one thing I was able to assist with was creating a plan to increase volunteers to support local youth programs. This was particularly valuable because the employees at the program I worked with manage multiple projects simultaneously. The volunteer engagement approach not only enriches the quality of programs but also ensures their sustainability and long-term impact. It’s important to acknowledge the challenges that Bacău’s youth programs face. Limited funding, few employment opportunities, the need for mental health services (80% of the population smokes cigarettes, often linked to stress), the need for enhanced accessibility for marginalized youth, and ensuring the longevity of these initiatives are areas that require continued attention and innovation.

My experiences in Bacău have further fueled my passion for fostering positive change and empowerment among young individuals. The trip highlighted the importance of
creating opportunities for skill enhancement, encouraging civic participation, and fostering cultural expression. What I learned from Bacău’s youth programs can serve as a source of inspiration and insight for similar initiatives  in the U.S.

I extend my gratitude to YAP, the organizers of the CEE exchange, YAP Director of International Programs and Development Diana Matteson and Alexandra Diana Gheorghică, who graciously allowed me to have this opportunity. This trip has not only expanded my horizons but also reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of community-driven youth programs such as YAP.

Editor’s Note: The CEE Program is a dynamic global network of innovators working with communities to address critical 21st century issues. CEE equips dedicated visionaries with the expertise, skills, and resources to develop multisector approaches and build healthy and engaged communities in over 100 countries.

Learn more about YAP at YAPInc.org.

Scottsboro, Ala. – It’s been approximately a month since Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. opened YAP House in Jackson County, Ala., creating a haven for youth and families to share a meal, do homework, connect, and unwind, said YAP Marshall/Jackson/Dekalb counties Alabama Program Coordinator Beverly Benson.

YAP, a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C., partners with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public safety systems to deliver unique evidence-based youth and family wraparound and behavioral health services in homes, schools, and other community sites as an alternative to youth incarceration and residential care.

Consistent with the nonprofit’s mission, YAP House is not a residential facility, but rather a community meeting space. It’s where kids returning home from residential and youth justice placements reconnect with their families as they meet with YAP Advocates who provide individualized services that empower them to see and nurture their strengths, firm their foundation, and put their lives on a positive course. 

The priority of YAP Jackson County is reunification, Benson said, adding, “When YAP gets involved, they [systems partners] know kids will have the best opportunity to go home. We do what we say, and they know the quality of our work. It’s all about getting kids home and keeping them home.”

YAP serves several counties in Alabama including rural areas of Marshall/Jackson/Dekalb through partnerships with local child welfare and youth justice systems. The YAP House is a satellite office open to both the Jackson and Marshall County programs. YAP Jackson County has 35 families in its child welfare program helping youth from newborn to age 18 and currently has four participants, ages 11-18 in its youth justice program. YAP Marshall County has 10 participants in its youth justice program.

“Jackson County’s Youth Advocate Programs has brought to our community an essential service that meets an underserved, yet very deserving, population,” said Jackson County Alabama Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Lauren Gattis. “These dedicated workers, each with a servant’s heart, have touched and helped families in ways that were not possible before. (American anthropologist and author) Margaret Mead said, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,’ and YAP exemplifies this sentiment each day with every family they serve.”

The relationship YAP Jackson County has with the Jackson County Juvenile Court is important, as the courts refer youth to the program.

“Four out of five of our families have been impacted by substance abuse,” Benson said. “The support from the community has been so overwhelming. I knew if we ever opened a YAP House in Jackson that we would be greeted with this warm reception, and it has really been encouraging of the work we do in these counties.”

Among YAP House program participants supported by YAP Jackson County was a young woman referred to the nonprofit after inappropriate cell phone usage on social media got her into trouble. When she returned from placement, YAP staff helped to stabilize her and her family and connect them to resources while educating them about the dangers of certain online usage. Additionally, the first week YAP House was open, staff members got a referral involving a youth who had run away from home. Once the youth was found, YAP Advocates brought him to YAP House where they gave him food and a place to rest, while deescalating the situation; allowing the youth to speak with his probation officer and reunifying him with his family.

“I cannot even begin to say how many positives we’ve had since the opening of that building,” Benson said. “It’s a space for families to be able to visit with their children. A lot of these families don’t have housing; housing is a huge barrier for us in these rural areas…so we’re able to provide them with that space.”

YAP House is a small refurbished mobile classroom that has three rooms and two bathrooms. The first room houses a table where staff can work on parenting and life skills curriculum; a living room is the second space where toys, board games and reading can be done. There’s also a kitchen area for families to create/eat meals together and has a computer.

“YAP House allows youth and family engagement,” said Benson, mother to five adopted children. “I think of YAP House in Jackson County as a neutral space that families can engage. We’re trying to eliminate some of the trauma of families and youth experience by being separated.”

Benson learned about YAP six years ago when she was looking for resources for one of her children. Shortly thereafter, she was hired as a YAP Advocate. Benson says she takes pride in what she does and since YAP Jackson County opened the YAP House, community leaders and other counties have taken notice.

“This program is on fire and Benson is leading the way,” YAP Alabama Regional Director Vivian Davis said.

Benson credits Davis, the six YAP Advocates in Jackson County, the three in Marshall County, Administrative Manager Brianna Wells, Program Coordinator Sarah Daugette, and Vice President of the Southeast Dr. LaVeisha Cummings for the successes of the program.

“The community sees YAP House as such a vital resource for the community,” Benson said. “Coming to YAP is one of the best moves in my entire career. It is my life’s work.”

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org or follow us on Twitter at @YAPInc.

Chicago – Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. Chicago Washington Heights Violence Interruption team hosted a Community Back–to–School Stop the Violence Picnic on August 13.

“It was a great event that brought the community – along with YAP program participants and our staff -together to fellowship, have fun, and provide resources to those who needed them,” said YAP Chicago Violence Interruption Program Director Ken Lewis. “YAP is in the neighborhood connecting youth and their families to wraparound services to help interrupt cycles of violence.”

The picnic, in its 25^th year, was held at Brainerd Park and nearly 1,000 residents were in attendance.

The YAP team offered families school supplies as well as connections to economic, educational, and emotional tools – tangible community resources that provide alternatives to violence. The event also included recreational activities, face painting, music, and free food.

Funded with a grant from the Chicago Department of Public Health Office of Violence Prevention, the YAP Washington Heights Violence Interruption program uses street outreach to serve individuals at the highest risk for becoming engaged in violence – including those associated with gangs, returning from prison or who have lost a loved one and might be at risk for retaliation – and their families.

YAP is a 48-year-old national nonprofit that has been in Chicago for 16 years as a partner to youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, public safety, schools, and other systems providing community-based services as an alternative to youth incarceration and residential placements and to curb neighborhood violence.

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.

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org or follow us on Twitter at @YAPInc.

Harris County, TX – When it was time for Xavier to leave a Harris County, Texas residential care facility, he was better, but needed more.

“I didn’t have direction; I was treading unknown waters, sailing on a sea, no island, nowhere to go,” he said. “Lots of guilt, shame, and sorrow for what I caused and the harm that was caused to me.”

Xavier went to a transitional emergency shelter for kids classified by the Texas child welfare system as children without placement or “CWOP” youth.

At the emergency shelter, Xavier met kids whose stories were unique, but with a common thread – no place to call home. Some had run from foster care. Others had returned from youth justice facilities to families unprepared or afraid to let them come back. Many had difficult, abusive, or volatile relationships with parents and guardians or their partners.

A couple of weeks after he got to the shelter, Xavier met Shalina Holmes and Alice Johnson from Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.

“The Advocates just came out of nowhere with a smile, open eyes, love and care,” Xavier said.

Johnson and Holmes are part of the Safely Home pilot program that YAP began last year with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) aimed at reconnecting CWOP youth with their families or fictive kin.

“The fact that there’s anyone that generous, and sweet, actually willing to help. The love is infinite and eternal,” Xavier said. “I saw that God puts people in my life who can lift me up.”

A 48-year-old national nonprofit is 35 states and the District of Columbia, YAP partners with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health and other systems delivering community-based services as an alternative to youth incarceration, residential care, and neighborhood violence. YAP’s goal working with TDFPS is to find safe alternatives for children without placement, to prevent disruption of foster care placements, and to provide individual and family services as youth are coming home from out-of-state justice and other residential facilities.

Holmes and Johnson spent hours with Xavier, getting to know and understand him. They contacted the parent who raised him and facilitated a meeting with the two of them. At the same time, the YAP team worked with Xavier and guided him as he designed an individualized service plan that builds on his strengths. It was clear to the YAP team how much Xavier loves to learn and write and how easily he expresses his thoughts and feelings.

“I take a journal everywhere I go,” he said. “I’m very charismatic. I’m very good at leading; I’m good at learning quickly; I’m learning math quickly; I’m inquisitive; my motivation is ceaseless. I read all the time,” he said.

As the team got to know Xavier’s parent, they began providing services to help facilitate trust and reconciliation.

“Things have calmed down. A lot has been resolved. We’ve healed a lot,” Xavier said.

When Xavier turned 17 a few months ago, Holmes and Johnson worked with his case worker to connect him with DFPS Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) services. They also arranged for him to have YAP Supported Work, a resource that enables Xavier to have a job at the emergency facility. When Xavier shared his story at a PAL group meeting, DFPS invited him to become part of its Youth Leadership Council and to speak at a statewide conference.

“I was really blessed and thankful. It made my day and allowed my heart to be filled.”

Xavier understands that returning home may not be possible, at least not yet. But with support from YAP, he has a better understanding of the complexities of his reality from his parent’s perspective. He sees progress and feels hopeful about his future.

“I am resilient, but I needed to ask for help,” he said. “I knew there were loving, kind people out there. They say so many inspiring words that keep me motivated. It’s just amazing.”

YAP continues to communicate with Xavier’s parent and other relatives with the goal of getting him safely home with relatives or in an independent living situation where he has the love and support of family.

“I’ve always known the mind is like a mirror. Our past, traumas, guilt, shame, and burden put mud on the mirror,” he said. “Now, with YAP, I see myself in a whole new horizon. Instead of looking at the murky swamp, I see a stunning sunrise.”

Xavier is empowered by the possibilities and the opportunities afforded him to share his story statewide with other CWOP kids and people who are in a position to provide resources to help them.

“It allows me to alleviate pain. Even if I just touch one heart, I’m happy,” he said.

“Xavier is an extremely articulate smart young man, said Xavier Etherly, Xavier’s caseworker. “He’s proven to be a leader amongst his peers and always has a positive upbeat attitude.”

Learn more about YAP and donate to support the nonprofit’s work at www.YAPInc.org

Lexington, KY — At age 17, Drake knows all too well how one very bad decision can detour a kid’s life. Through Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc., he also sees how unconditional support and guidance can give young people tools to account for their mistakes while redirecting their lives on a positive course.

“Drake became a role model for his peers and due to his amazing turnaround and resilience, was dubbed “ValeYAPtorian” and gave a speech at our YAP graduation,” said former Kentucky YAP Assistant Director Delaney Harris, who said her team also awarded him the organization’s Visionary award.  

Drake was 16 when he first heard about YAP.  

“I had been getting into fights,” he said. “I had anger issues, anxiety, and depression. I was spiraling downwards.” 

YAP partners with justice, child welfare, behavioral health, educational and other systems to deliver community-based services as a more effective, equitable and economical alternative to youth incarceration and group residential placements. In recent years, cities have partnered with YAP to incorporate the national nonprofit’s culturally responsive model in efforts to curb neighborhood violence. The key to the model is using zip code recruitment to hire and train community-based staff to deliver individual and family services in homes, schools, and other community sites. 

Drake’s High School’s Youth Services coordinator referred him to YAP’s school-based program that conducts group sessions on positive conflict resolution.  

“I had a really rough life growing up,” Drake said. “Things kept happening; things kept building up.” 

Drake said he wasn’t one to initiate fights; but by the time he was 15, if someone started with him, he would let the anger out. He said the YAP group meetings at school helped, but managing his feelings wasn’t easy. 

“It was difficult; I was new to the whole self-improvement thing. Going to the meetings, I learned a few skills; but it was hard to change.” 

Drake showed steady improvement, enough for YAP to give him a peer leader role in a follow-up conflict resolution session.  Drake said when that term ended, his anger resumed and continued to get him into trouble at school. The school reconnected him to YAP, but this time with its diversion program. Diversion offered him community-based YAP services as an alternative to more punitive youth justice system approaches. Drake said at the time, he was facing complex personal and family-related challenges. 

“Then my anger, depression and anxiety kept getting worse,” he said. “I made a big mistake and got locked up.”  

It was his first involvement with the justice system. But the charges were serious. 

Program Director Ashley Randall said YAP appeared at every court hearing, speaking up, and advocating passionately for Drake to not be charged as an adult.  

“If he were to be charged as an adult, he would look at eight to 10 years,” said Kentucky YAP Assistant Director Delaney Harris.   

During his three months awaiting adjudication in a youth facility, Drake received regular visits from his family and his YAP team. 

“Between myself, his advocate Alysha Wilson, and another advocate Ben Randall, someone went to visit Drake every single week, hoping to keep his spirits up,” Harris said. “During his time in placement, he made the decision to get his life together and strive to be the best person he could be despite his past actions.” 

Harris said Drake spent his time journaling, reading, studying, completing schoolwork, and working out.

“That’s when it really started to kick in. I realized I had to do it for me,” Drake said.  

True to the nonprofit’s youth and family wraparound services model, conversations focused not on his mistakes and what landed Drake behind bars, but on his strengths. 

Drake said he came to appreciate his positive attributes. “I’m smart; I care about and want to help my family,” he said. 

Harris said Drake is also resourceful; that working with him, the YAP team has been able to connect his family with gas cards, food pantries and other basic needs resources.   

“He always worries about his little sister, making sure she has something to play with, wanting her to have things to do — coloring books, markers and crayons,” she said. 

 As part of his probation, Drake continued to receive services from YAP as a participant in the nonprofit’s alternative-to-youth-incarceration program. 

“When he was released to the community, he began right away implementing the changes he was making. He participated in several volunteer activities, such as the community garden, and was happy to help every time,” Harris said. “He continues to showcase his new mindset and continues to give back to his community and be a positive contributing member of society, when things could’ve easily gone the other way.” 

Drake graduated early from high school. He has a part-time job at a nearby restaurant and is putting in applications for construction work. 

“Alysha comes and gets me; I’ve started learning more skills,” he said. “All the people are really nice and supportive. I never feel I’m talking to a wall.” 

Drake has learned a lot about trauma and its impact on decisions people make. He also understands and is experiencing the power of community and a strong family foundation. 

 “I want to keep working to help my family,” he said, going on to explain the importance of his family in his journey. “I live with my mom and my siblings. My grandma on my dad’s side — she helped raise me.  Any time I start to feel down, she’s there. And she’s there when I’m doing well. I am doing well. And I’m going to continue to do well.” 

Learn how more about YAP, apply to join the team, or donate to support the nonprofit at www.YAPInc.org. You can also support YAP by following the nonprofit on Twitter @YAPInc.

Camden, N.J. – YAP New Jersey recently celebrated 45 years of serving young people and families with a day of “It Takes a Village: Building in New Jersey, One Brick at a Time,” anniversary events.

“It wasn’t until my aunt introduced me to Youth Advocate Programs did I start feeling inspired,” said former YAP program participant Ronald, who credits his Advocate Kendall Sears with helping him make better choices.

YAP, a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C., partners with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public safety systems to deliver unique evidence-based youth and family wraparound and behavioral health services in homes, schools and other community sites as safe, effective, and more equitable alternatives to youth incarceration and residential care. In recent years, municipalities have also used the YAP  model to curb neighborhood violence.

Ronald plans to attend Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Science in the fall. “I was matched with an Advocate (Sears) that really invested time and energy into me. My Advocate encouraged me to think beyond my circumstances and always wants me to do better in life than what I experienced.”

On display at the anniversary event were art and poetry, in addition to performances by youth who expressed how their lives changed after the pandemic.

“It was wonderful for all of our staff, program participants and the community as a whole to come together to commemorate all of the strides YAP has made in servicing New Jersey for all these years,” said YAP New Jersey Director of Operations Stephanie Moore. “I want to thank all of the organizations who joined our anniversary event for their support, and I especially want to thank our staff who work tirelessly to change the biographies of our youth.”

Exceptional YAP staff were recognized during the program. Spencer McCray, owner of Walk Wit Em Socks, served as the guest speaker and YAP President and CEO Gary Ivory also addressed attendees.

“As YAP New Jersey celebrated over four decades years of providing alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care and out-of-home placements, I would be remiss if I did not honor YAP’s founder Tom Jeffers, along with all of the amazing staff who work hard every day to make sure our youth are safe,” Ivory said. “I can’t wait to see what YAP New Jersey does in the next four decades.”

In addition to serving justice and child welfare systems-involved youth and behavioral health program participants in the state, YAP recently launched YAP Pursuing Excellence, its five-county New Jersey Community-Based Violence Prevention Program partnership with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA). YAP staff in the program are “credible messengers,” many of whom were systems involved when they were younger, to work with youth identified as being at the highest risk of becoming engaged in violence. As part of their individualized services, participants receive on-the-job training, coaching, guidance, support, and mentoring with neighborhood-based businesses, with compensation provided by the nonprofit. Accompanied by their YAP credible messengers, participants attend weekly group Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) sessions.

In Essex County a year ago, YAP implemented a pilot program that provides individual and family wraparound services to adults leaving prison when their sentences “max out.” Many of the program participants served long sentences that began in their youth. The pilot is a partnership between YAP and the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC), which connects individuals to the program up to 180 days before their release date.

YAP was founded in Harrisburg, Pa. in 1975 and expanded to Camden, N.J. in 1978. The organization has programs across the Garden State in counties including Atlantic, Burlington, Gloucester, Mercer, Salem, Camden, Cumberland, Cape May, Essex, Union, Hudson, Bergen, Passaic, Middlesex, Morris, Ocean and Sussex.

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org or follow us on Twitter at @YAPInc.

Bedford, Pa. – In honor of Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc., in Bedford County, Pa. serving the community and erecting a new roadside sign, so the office can be more identifiable – the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 26 to help staff celebrate.

“YAP Bedford participated in a ribbon-cutting to promote YAP resources in educating the community on our mission following the enrollment with the Chamber of Commerce,” said YAP Bedford County Administrative Manager Billie Stickel. “YAP Bedford also added roadside signage for participants and the public to have easier access in finding our location.”

YAP is a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C., that provides community-based alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care, and neighborhood violence. YAP partners include behavioral health, child welfare, intellectual and developmental disabilities, youth and adult justice entities and more.

YAP is not new to Bedford County, Pa., however, with the new sign, program participants, their families and the community can find the office better. The office is on Lincoln Highway in Bedford, Pa.

“It was a great event,” said YAP Pennsylvania Regional Director Regina Scarmack. “We’ve been in Bedford County for a long time and it’s a really nice office.”

Learn more about YAP at www.yapinc.org and follow the organization on Twitter @YAPInc.

Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education Will Help Ease the Financial Burden

New Jersey – Four former New Jersey Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), participants recently received scholarships to further their education through the nonprofit’s Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education. YAP is a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C., that provides community-based alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care, and neighborhood violence.

Ronald and Rayvon from Essex County, Hailey from Morris-Sussex County and Jesse from Middlesex County, N.J., will use their scholarships for tuition to pursue their secondary education. Ronald plans to attend Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Science; Rayvon and Hailey will enroll in Sussex County Community College; and Jesse started classes at Universal Technical Institute in July.

“When I go to college, I want to get my Associates degree in psychology from Sussex County Community College, and then get my bachelors in psychology from William Patterson University,” Hailey wrote in her scholarship essay. “I hope to get my master’s after that and work in the FBI.”

The Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education is named after YAP founder Tom Jeffers and helps support current and former program participants and their families who are pursuing post-secondary education or training. YAP scholarships can be applied to school tuition, fees or supplies, job training costs, or in the form of a laptop computer. The fund is supported by YAP employees who generously donate voluntarily through payroll deductions.

“I plan on going into the (automotive) industry because of the love I have for cars,” Jesse wrote in his scholarship essay. “Once I graduate and become an entrepreneur and certified in my trade, I aspire to one day be able to give back to my community.”

Jesse was referred to YAP’s New Jersey Community-Based Violence Prevention Program, also known as YAP Pursuing Excellence™, through his probation officer. The program spans over five New Jersey counties and is a partnership with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Participants take part in YAP Supported Work™ employment with neighborhood-based businesses that provide on-the-job training, coaching, and mentoring, while receiving compensation from the nonprofit. The employment readiness program is among the tools available to YAP staff as they deliver individualized services that help program participants see and nurture their strengths. As part of the program, Jesse also attended weekly group Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) sessions designed to address violence-related trauma.

“The program provided me with a job, that at the time is something I was struggling to do,” Jesse said. “Supported Work has given me work experience which has created a steppingstone for more opportunities. I get along with my co-workers and I love my job.”

Rayvon was a participant in the nonprofit’s Outreach Diversion program, where he was paired with YAP Advocates who connected him with economic, educational and emotional tools, and encouraged and supported him to make better decisions.

“I got involved with YAP to receive guidance from the Advocates and to open my eyes to unseen opportunities,” Rayvon wrote in his scholarship essay. “The program taught me important life skills, as well as how to build better social and school connections. My goal is to college and play football while majoring in physical therapy.”

Ronald credits his YAP Advocate Kendall Sears who he views as a father figure for helping him change his viewpoint on many things.

“It wasn’t until my aunt introduced me to Youth Advocate Programs did I start feeling inspired,” Ronald wrote in his scholarship essay. “I was matched with an advocate [Sears] that really invested time and energy into me.”

Through Sears, Ronald met other youth in the program and said he was encouraged to follow his dreams of becoming a welder.

“[Sears] took me different places, which allowed me the benefit of opening my mind to the fact that I had options in life and that I did not have to become a product of my environment,” Ronald added. “I am really encouraged to change the cycle of my family.”

YAP Outpatient Clinician Shannon Schierenbeck has been working with Hailey since October 2022 and says she demonstrates traits of kindness, honesty and has a willingness to learn and grow.

“Hailey has expressed a passion for forensic psychology and continuing her education since I first met her,” Schierenbeck said. “I am confident that receiving this scholarship will be essential to helping her achieve her goals, as she will be paying for college on her own. Hailey has a lot to offer, not only to the field of forensic psychology, but also to her community.”

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 percent of participants in secure placement.

Learn more about YAP at www.yapinc.org and follow the organization on Twitter @YAPInc.

Louisville, Ky. –When Hope Knuckles-Perks became Program Director at Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc., in Jefferson County, Ky., she got in her car and drove around Louisville to personally meet with program participants and their families. Half of the homes she visited had been shot up.

“I ride around with young people who people want to kill every day,” Knuckles-Perks said. “That is the life we live as [YAP] Advocates, directors, and program coordinators.”

A national nonprofit in 35 states and the District of Columbia, YAP partners with youth justice, child welfare, education, behavioral health, and other systems to provide community-based services as more effective and equitable alternatives to youth incarceration and residential care. YAP also partners with public safety systems to implement neighborhood anti-violence initiatives.

Knuckles-Perks started as an Advocate in Kentucky in 2019 before relocating to Charlotte, N.C. There she also served as an Advocate before becoming program coordinator for YAP – Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), N.C. YAP promoted Knuckles-Perks to the Jefferson County program in August 2022, where she could be back closer to her family.

“Hope exemplified one who has the ability to lead others to reach and inspire our youth,” said Mecklenburg County Program Director Malik Glover. “Her passion and drive to make a difference in the lives of youth and their families is unmatched.”

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Louisville since age 6, Knuckles-Perks’ background is in the healthcare field. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in criminal justice.

Knuckles-Perks said her childhood was filled with turmoil and traumatic experiences. At age 15 she was taking care of her two younger siblings. Unlike the young people she serves at YAP, Knuckles-Perks said she didn’t get into trouble as a youth. But she did as an adult in her 30s, which resulted in felonies and probation until her record was expunged.

“Anything that can happen to a person has happened to me,” Knuckles-Perks said. “I’ve been away from my children, was on probation…everything was in disarray. My whole life I was in fight or flight mode but no matter what happens to us in life, we can do better.”

YAP Jefferson County, Ky. works with youth who have been referred to the program through the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. Knuckles-Perks said she learned about YAP through a previous Advocate while in a meeting about purchasing life insurance and became interested in juvenile justice when a family member had some involvement in the court system.

“I think it was YAP’s mission to help these youth and keep them out of the detention centers that piqued my interest,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of this organization.”

YAP Midwest Regional Director Jamaal Crawford said Knuckles-Perks was determined to become an Advocate and when the position opened to become program director back in Kentucky it was the right step forward for her.

“With her persistence and mixture of compassion that she has when engaging with participants and families, it was natural for her to transition into the Louisville Director role when she interviewed for that position,” Crawford said. “Hope continues to do great things within the Louisville community, and I look forward to her continued professional growth within the agency.”

Knuckles-Perks credits attending a YAP New Directors Training as Charlotte’s program coordinator as a pivotal moment for her career within the agency. She left the training feeling inspired and motivated to go back and share what she learned. Before long, she was at the helm of Kentucky’s longest running YAP program where there were approximately 15 families being served. She said six months later when that number doubled, she was excited, saying she wants to help as many families as she can.

Knuckles-Perks stays on-call, with her phone in reach in case a youth or family need her.

“By building those relationships and connections in a different way and being that voice for my families is what it’s all about,” Knuckles-Perks who is mom to three adult daughters, added. “I’ve always wanted to give back and help people. I don’t have any plans of leaving YAP. I want to continue to go up and up.”

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

Philadelphia — A year ago, Nasir and Dameen were among the disturbing numbers of  Philadelphia youth facing serious juvenile court charges. Today, at 18, they’re looking forward to the fall when they will be college students, with scholarships in tow to ease the financial burden.

Dameen is headed to Howard University in Washington, D.C. where he plans to major in math.

“I thought I’d messed up everything for myself,” he said, looking back to the day he was arrested.

Nasir is on his way to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where he will pursue an international business major.

“A lot of people are proud of me. They’ve seen me go a long way,” Nasir said.

As a condition of their probation, Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center Family Court hearing officers assigned Nasir and Dameen to Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. A national nonprofit in 35 states and the District of Columbia, YAP partners with youth justice, child welfare, education, behavioral health, and other systems to provide community-based services as more effective and equitable alternatives to youth incarceration and residential care. Upon their acceptance to college, YAP awarded both young men a Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education Fund scholarship. Named for YAP’s founder and funded by employee donations, the scholarship provides eligible current and former program participants with $1,000 for college tuition, job training/supplies fees, or a laptop computer.

Dameen’s arrest for possession of a weapon was his first brush with the youth justice system. YAP Advocate Sierra Jones saw his determination from the start, reminding him often that he is much more than his worst mistake.

“Sierra made me forget about all that; let me know that it was a mistake that I could move on from,” he said. “Like my mom, she’s always wanted to keep me on track and to do the right thing.”

YAP recruits neighborhood-based Advocates spanning from GED to PhD educational level whose backgrounds and experiences enable them to relate to youth and families they serve.

“When I met Dameen, I saw more than a kid with a [serious]  charge. I saw myself as a teenager who needed more motivation,” Jones said.

Jones said working with Dameen and other YAP program participants motivated her to complete work to earn her human services degree.

Like Dameen, Nasir came to YAP through a Family Court hearing officer.

Nasir said prior to landing in YAP, he had made many poor choices with multiple arrests and court cases.

“The first time I got in trouble, I was in the 8th grade and got suspended from school. It was 33 days before I was supposed to graduate from middle school,” he said.

Nasir said things continued to get worse, especially when he was incarcerated in a youth facility six hours from home. He said he returned to Philadelphia angry and picked up where he left off.

“Three days before my February court date, I stole a car; got into a cop chase,” he recalled. “I went to the hospital. I broke my right femur bone and broke my leg. They sent me to a cell with one crutch. I had to get up to knock on the door to go to the bathroom.”

That was the offense that led him to YAP.

Guided by principles of unconditional caring and never rejecting or ejecting program participants, YAP Advocates go beyond traditional mentoring, empowering program participants to see their strengths and connecting them with educational, economic, and emotional tools to nurture them.

“It was a rocky start; he didn’t want to listen to anyone,” said YAP Advocate Caprea Ross, adding that she backed off a little before Nasir finally warmed up to her. Spending time with him during his community service job, Ross took time to get to know Nasir and saw that he was a hard worker. When she learned Nasir was taking AP calculus, she encouraged him to apply himself at school, too.

“Once he got situated in school he started thriving,” she said.

As Nasir’s grades continued to improve, he added another AP class.

“School and books; everyone always told me I was smart. I’m a good speaker. I’m a reader,” he said, adding that he just finished Don Winslow’s “The Cartel.”

As part of YAP, Advocates partner with parents and guardians, with the goal of working as a team in demonstrating unconditional kindness.

Jones said Dameen’s mother’s care, concern and commitment to her son’s growth have been key to keeping him on track to meet his goals.

“We have a rapport,” she said. “Mom communicates with me, which makes my job much easier. We’re on the same team. She is very supportive which makes me go the extra mile.”

Like Jones, Ross sees parental involvement as critical, adding that she has a special relationship with Nasir’s mother.

“I say we’re a family; we hold one another accountable,” she said.

When Nasir learned of his acceptance to IUP, Ross got permission from his mom and probation officer to drive him four and a half hours to Indiana, Pa. for a campus orientation.

“His PO (probation officer), mom, me, the judge; we’re all on the same page,” Ross said. “He’s a good kid who just made some bad decisions. We’re all here to support him.”

To help with expenses, Ross enrolled Nasir in YAP Supported Work, which enables program participants to receive compensation from the nonprofit while working for a local business that aligns with their interests.

“He’s going to be at an auto body shop,” Ross said.

Having graduated high school and completed the requirements for probation, Dameen and Nasir will enter college with a clean record.

“Dameen’s self-determination allowed him to excel these past couple of months. As his Advocate, it was my duty to help him see that mistakes don’t define your future,” Jones said.

“I guess I always knew what I was capable of,” Dameen said.

Both young men say they understand that as part of the program, YAP expects them to give back to their communities. They say already their turnaround stories are inspiring friends, relatives, and neighbors to see new possibilities for themselves as well.

“The YAP program benefited my life so much by giving me so many outlets” Nasir said. “The program helped me learn how to stay focused on things in life and to have things in order.”

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 percent of participants in secure placement.

Learn more about YAP at www.yapinc.org and follow the organization on Twitter @YAPInc.

Click image below to see new :60 TV PSA

Fifteen-year-old Blessyn looks at her life these days and smiles. She has come long way. A couple of years ago, her mother died. Alone with her father who battles chronic health issues, she struggled to manage her emotions.

“After I lost my mom, I was depressed and resentful. I couldn’t find my way,” Blessyn says in a new public service announcement (PSA). “But I’m not lost,” she adds.

The new PSA is part of Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.’s national “But I’m Not” public awareness campaign, which includes video, radio and print ads appearing in donated media across the U.S. YAP is a national nonprofit in 35 states and Washington, D.C. that partners with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, education, public safety and other systems to deliver services in homes, schools, and other community sites as an alternative to residential care, youth incarceration, and neighborhood violence.

The PSA campaign, produced in partnership with YAP and The CauseWay Agency, features current and former participants in the national nonprofit’s Youth Justice, Child Welfare, Intellectual Disabilities/Autism, and now with Blessyn’s participation, Behavioral Health programs. YAP hires neighborhood-based staff to provide culturally responsive individual and family services that focus on program participants’ strengths and empower them with tools to thrive. Through one of the nonprofit’s school-based programs, Blessyn began working with YAP Behavioral Health Services professional Tiffany Love, who lives in her community and works at her high school, which is also Love’s alma mater.

“I empower Blessyn with skills and tools to see her strengths and set positive goals,” Love says in the PSAs.

Blessyn ends the PSA with a smile and hope.

“And now I’m finding joy and excited about my future.”

In addition to the national PSA campaign, Love is featured in a digital radio and YouTube ad campaign aimed at recruiting YAP Behavioral Health Services and other staff.

The PSA ends with the narrator saying, “After completing our program, nearly 90 percent of participants remain in their community. YAP works.”

Learn how more about YAP, apply to join the team, or donate to support the nonprofit at www.YAPInc.org. You can also support YAP by following the nonprofit on Twitter @YAPInc.