Centering the "Youth" in American Youth Policy Forum

Welcome to our Youth Council Microsite!

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) is excited to feature this youth-focused section of our website, where we highlight artwork, resources, and tools created by and geared towards young people with experiences in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Click on an icon below to navigate to a specific section of the microsite. 

Also, be sure to listen to our NEW podcast about credible messengers, which was led by the creativity, passion, and lived expertise of our Youth Policy Consultants! And you may be interested to view this recent video about elevating youth voices with Project 9 USA.

Are you a young person marginalized by systemic inequities? Are you interested in working with AYPF on federal policy issues that create opportunities or remove barriers to youth success? Please complete this form to express interest in joining our Youth Council and/or serving as a Youth Policy Consultant!

Art Gallery
Key Takeaways from Youth-Led Discussion Groups
Youth Profiles from Youth-Led Discussion Groups
Empowering Tools for Young People
AYPF Youth Advisors
AYPF Youth-Focused Events & Resources

Art Gallery

The below gallery features artwork created by individuals in the foster care and/or juvenile-justice systems.

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Photos courtesy of Arizona Department of Education, Maryhurst, Performing Statistics, Artworks Cincinnati and Urban Artworks

Key Takeaways from 2020 Youth-Led Discussion Groups

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Youth Profiles from 2020 Youth-Led Discussion Groups

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Autumn Adams
Marquez Davis
Rychan Haggins
Mallory Ozuna

Empowering Tools for Young People

In this section, we highlight resources for young people including advocacy tools, toolkits, and training curricula. Please browse our website for additional resources for justice-involved or youth in foster care.

For adult allies -> checkout these advocacy tools if you’re an educator or an advocate on behalf of a young person!

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  1. Financial Empowerment Toolkit (via Children’s Bureau)
  2. Strategic Sharing: Using Personal Stories for Advocacy (via North American Council on Adoptable Children)
  3. Caged Birds Sing: A Report by Girls on the A Unit at Waxter (via Sonia Kumar, ACLU of Maryland)
  4. Its Transition Time Checklist (via Foster Club)
  5. A Children’s Guide to Foster Care (via Compass Fostering)
  6. Guide for Children Under 5 (via Compass Fostering)
  7. Regenerations: Leadership Pipeline Toolkit (via Movement Strategy Center & Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing)
  8. Performing Statistics Curriculum (via Performing Statistics)
  9. Interactive iCivic Games (via iCivics)

Meet AYPF’s Youth Advisors

AYPF had the pleasure of working alongside two POWERFUL young leaders to co-create our first-ever youth-focused event in the Fall of 2020, Breaking Through Barriers: Elevating the Voices of Young People.

We are excited to continue to work with young people like you to develop  AYPF’s Youth Council and create long-term, systemic change! If you’re a young person interested in staying up to date with AYPF’s youth-focused programming, including our upcoming Youth Council, please sign-up here, we’d love to connect with you!

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Marquez Davis
View Profile

Marquez Davis

AYPF Youth Advisor (Fall 2020)
Former Justice-Involved Youth

Full Bio
Daftne Sanchez
View Profile

Daftne Sanchez

AYPF Youth Advisor (Fall 2020)
Former Foster Youth

Full Bio

AYPF Youth-Focused Events & Resources

See All Youth-Focused Resources

Please checkout additional resources below including past events, blogs, interviews, and more!

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