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. And you may be interested to view this recent video about elevating youth voices with Project 9 USA.
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
Youth at the Center
During the summer of 2020, we hosted our first-ever youth-led discussion groups. During these virtual conversations, AYPF staff heard firsthand from systems-involved individuals about how their educational & workforce goals were impacted by COVID-19, and gained valuable insight regarding how allies can better support their needs.
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For a summary of these conversations, read our The Impact of COVID-19 Through the Lens of Foster Youth and Justice-Involved Youth blog, and checkout key takeaways and discussion group profiles below.
Key Takeaways from 2020 Youth-Led Discussion Groups
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Youth Profiles from 2020 Youth-Led Discussion Groups
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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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- Financial Empowerment Toolkit (via Children’s Bureau)
- Strategic Sharing: Using Personal Stories for Advocacy (via North American Council on Adoptable Children)
- Caged Birds Sing: A Report by Girls on the A Unit at Waxter (via Sonia Kumar, ACLU of Maryland)
- Its Transition Time Checklist (via Foster Club)
- A Children’s Guide to Foster Care (via Compass Fostering)
- Guide for Children Under 5 (via Compass Fostering)
- Regenerations: Leadership Pipeline Toolkit (via Movement Strategy Center & Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing)
- Performing Statistics Curriculum (via Performing Statistics)
- 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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Please checkout additional resources below including past events, blogs, interviews, and more!
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Breaking Through Barriers: Elevating the Voices of Young People
Read moreAYPF was proud to host this youth-focused event, highlighting the talents and stories of systems-involved youth.
The Impact of COVID-19 Through the Lens of Foster Youth and Justice-Involved Youth
July 21, 2020Read moreAfter a series of focus groups, Maria Duarte & Nicole Chandonnet share research alongside youth voices relating their COVID-19…
Harnessing the Potential of Young Adults (Boston, MA & East Providence, RI)
-Read moreThis study tour consisted of site visits & presentations from labor, child welfare & juvenile justice leaders about systems…
2019 Samuel Halperin Lecture and Youth Public Service Award
Read moreJoined by partners and supporters, AYPF celebrated and recognized the 2019 Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award winner.
2018 Halperin Youth Public Service Award Essays
March 20, 2018Read moreThis year we are pleased to feature three essays written by Santos Amaya Guevara, Harrison Rodriguez and I-Ra Abubaker.
Introducing Santos Amaya Guevara
March 13, 2018Read moreLeslie Byford sits down and talks about the importance of public service with this year’s 2018 Halperin Youth Award…
