Youth Advocate Programs

Our mission is to provide individuals who are, have been or may be subject to compulsory care with the opportunity to develop, contribute and be valued as assets so that communities have safe, proven effective and economical alternatives to institutional placement.

We support, care for, organize and empower the most vulnerable and marginalized young people, adults and families in the US and abroad. By tapping into the strengths and capabilities of the 10,000 families we serve each year, our 2,000+ YAP staff members, and the capacity of communities, YAP affects positive change.

YAP has developed unique service delivery principles that guide our work with youth and families involved in the Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare, Behavioral Health and Education systems. Our staff, who reside in or near the neighborhoods they serve, work non-traditional, flexible hours and are accessible 24/7. Our demonstrated ability to recruit and energize indigenous resident leaders within neighborhoods is another unique element of our success.

Juvenile Justice Program

YAP has proven that high-risk youth involved in the juvenile justice system can safely and effectively be served in home and community-based settings at a fraction of the cost of out-of-home placements. YAP offers alternatives to detention and state incarceration, supports youth post-adjudication to help with compliance and other needs, and also provides reintegration support for youth transitioning out of these placements.

YAP continually evolves services to meet new needs that emerge for youth involved within the juvenile justice system, but most of our programming is designed for the purposes below.

Diversion: to divert youth from formal system involvement.

Pre-Adjudication: to prevent formal detention while ensuring community safety. 

Post-Adjudication: to prevent incarceration in prisons, jails or other residential or secure facilities.

Re-Entry: to promote safety and support to youth transitioning back to the community from institutional placement.

YES Waiver Program

The YES Waiver Program is funded through Texas Medicaid and provides a variety of intensive, community-based services to allow children and adolescents, ages 3 through 18, with serious emotional disturbances to live in the community with their families.

YES Waiver services are administered by your Local Mental Health Authority whom help decide if you are eligible for YES Waiver and work with you to develop an Individualized Plan of Care. Youth Advocate Programs, through our staff and community partners, provides the following YES Waiver services: Community Living Support, Paraprofessional, and/or In-Home Respite.