March Youth Spotlight – Chester County Youth Advisory Board

This month, we’re recognizing the Chester County Youth Advisory Board (YAB)! After a change in Board organization, new staff members, and the integration of 14 and 15 year old members, the board grew exponentially and now has over 15 active and attending youth who are participants in Independent Living programs throughout the county. This year, Board members have attended statewide retreats, facilitated Know Your Rights trainings, and worked on a wide variety of service projects. Their latest project is to pack and distribute care packages to youth entering foster care for the first time – these packages will include journals, positive quote jars, Know Your Rights manuals, stuffed animals, and cards, some which will be donated to nearby hospitals for youth who enter care after hospitalization.

The Board is additionally working to normalize the substitute care system through a social media initiative. Their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed – at least two other counties’ boards are planning to adopt their Ice Cream Social recruitment event, and they’ve had multiple YAB members from other counties shadow their meetings. We look forward to seeing what they do next, as well as how other boards throughout the region are inspired by their work!