Pennsylvania Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
The Pennsylvania Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is comprised of current and former foster care youth ages 16-23. Youth leaders on the YAB educate, advocate, and form partnerships to create positive changes in the foster care system. YAB members are viewed as experts and meetings are youth-led and organized. Consultants are appointed to each Regional YAB in a support role to help youth find their voices and teach them about meeting facilitation, action planning, and other necessary skills. Local and Regional YABs funnel into the Statewide YAB. Regional YABs and the Statewide YAB meet every three months.
Youth and alumni create positive change in the child welfare system by:
- Training caseworkers, administrators, foster parents, supervisors, judges, and guardian ad litem on issues of importance to older youth and alumni
- Developing recommendations related to policies and procedures affecting youth in care
- Providing input to developing implementation plans for recent laws enacted such as Act 75 of 2015: The Activities and Experiences for Children in Out-of-Home Placements Act
- Organizing community service events
- Engaging in peer-to-peer mentoring
The YAB is funded by the PA Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families and is supported by the CWRC and the IL Project. For more information on the YAB visit: https://www.payab.pitt.edu/AboutILP.htm