The Neighborhood Advocate

In a recent teleconference, Sarah Gross focuses on her origami, an ancient Japanese practice of shaping paper into art. On the other end of her video call young people ages 9-17 make their own...

Neighborly outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic is strengthening bonds between some Baltimore City Safe Streets workers and the families they serve. Safe Streets is an evidence-based public health approach to reducing shootings and homicides in...

Melissa Johnson felt she’d finally made it when she earned her bachelor’s in psychology from Frostburg State University in Maryland. But when months turned into years of getting turned down for job after job,...

During a recent videoconference meeting, the Wayne County, NY Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. team resolved to do something big to motivate homebound families strained by COVID-19 restrictions. YAP is a nonprofit with programs...

If you’ve ever met a Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. Advocate, you’ll understand the key to the organization’s effectiveness as a provider of community-based alternatives to youth incarceration and out-of-home placements. With programs in...

Welcome to a virtual photo exhibit featuring Chemung County, NY Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.’s program participants, families and staff. Partnering with social services, Chemung County YAP works with youth who are at risk...

By Jenilee Pollan, Assistant Program Director, Ulster County Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. A huge focus of our work at Ulster County Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. is coordinating with Ulster County School District to...

Kingston, NY (April 22, 2020) – It’s Friday, going on 5 pm, and Cam, 15, Gabe, 12, Raymond, 14, and Stephen, 17, are in their kitchens – some with their moms -- making chicken...

Employing technology and practicing social distancing, Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. remains focused on its mission to provide community-based support to young people who would otherwise be incarcerated or placed into congregate facilities. An...

  Confronted with challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. has launched a special COVID-19 relief fund. A national nonprofit, YAP partners with youth justice, child welfare and other social...

When Anthony Stanziale started hearing news reports about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, his first thought was, “How is this going to affect young people in our program?” Anthony is an Advocate with Delaware Youth...

Two months before her 21st birthday, Tuesday Nelson is turning an important corner in her life. Last month, she started her first job at Coopers Hawk Winery and Restaurant in Chicago. While the coronavirus...

On a cold February Baltimore morning , Dee is excited to bring Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. Program Coordinator Chasity Dorsey up to speed on what’s happening in her life. A 24-year-old who spent...

Almost every day, 19-year-old Nia runs – fast.  She’s a second semester freshman on the track team at Rowan College of South Jersey. A sprinter, she competes in 100, 200 and 400-meter dash and relay events. For Nia, running is more than training or about reaching the finish line first.  “I use it as my outlet...

Until now, 34-year-old Santos Robles kept what happened to him two decades ago in the past. But to help celebrate the 45th anniversary of Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc., a community-based alternative to youth...