Antwerp, Belgium – Worldwide leaders from 36 countries heard the story of a former Youth Advocate Programs (YAP™), Inc. violence interruption program participant who received resources that helped put his life on a positive trajectory thanks to the agency’s community violence interruption (CVI) work. The presentation was part of the 2024 European Social Services Conference (ESSC) held June 26-28.
Located in 35 states and Washington, D.C., with partnerships in Australia, Guatemala, Ireland and Sierra Leone, YAP delivers community-based services as alternatives to incarceration and placing young people in detention/residential care. The organization partners with juvenile justice, child welfare, and behavioral health entities. In recent years, YAP has also partnered with local public safety systems using its community-based model as part of services to reduce violence among individuals who have been identified as being at the highest risk.
At ESSC, YAP Delaware Program Director Omar Douglas, alongside YAP National Director of Community-Based Safety Initiatives Fred Fogg, presented, “YAP, Inc. Community-Based Safety Initiatives: Addressing Violence in Cities to Restore, Heal, and Strengthen Communities & the People Who Live There.” The YAP Global delegation included YAP Director of International Programs and Development Diana Matteson and YAP Ireland Team Leader Peggy Cullen, an ESSC delegate. ESSC is Europe’s largest social welfare policy and practice forum.
In sharing the success of a YAP program participant he worked with, Douglas said that once in trouble with the law, the Delaware youth lost his foster home placement and was victimized by gun violence. However, with the help of the organization’s unique wraparound or YAPWrap™services, the young man received from 2021-2023, he graduated from high school, gained employment, and has not reoffended since completing the program.
“He [the former program participant] continues to communicate with me on a weekly basis,” said Douglas, an ESSC 2024 Bursary Fund recipient. “He now works with one of our community partners who distributes free air conditioners to low-income residents as an installer, delivering and inserting the units.”
YAP’s community-based Advocates and violence interrupters/credible messengers help mediate conflict, prevent escalation, and provide services to participants and their families who help address needs like housing, employment, or behavioral health services.
“Congratulations to Omar and Fred for representing YAP community-based safety initiatives and Peggy for representing YAP Ireland for the great work and the well-received presentation in Antwerp,” Matteson said. “Most of all, thank you to our Delaware program participant for entrusting the YAP team with his story so we could take delegates from Malta, United Arab Emirates, Poland, Iceland, Sweden, Belgium, and other countries on a storytelling journey to understand YAP’s work and the impact that can be made on an individual, family, and community when we co-create in a strength-based partnership.”
Nearly 700 delegates worked together for 4 days in Antwerp to debate, dialogue, teach, and challenge each other to make systems, services, and policies more equitable, efficient, effective, and informed by those who use them.
“YAP is proud to have a national and international footprint in partnering with agencies, foundations and individuals who share a common goal to provide community-based services that offer alternatives to out-of-home placements and make neighborhoods safer,” said YAP CEO and President Gary Ivory. “We strive to empower young people and their families to see their strengths while connecting them with the emotional, educational and economical tools they need in order to thrive.”
For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.