Youth Advocate FAQs

  • Our Youth Advocates range in age between 16 and 23. They have out-of-home living experience (such as foster care, kinship care, juvenile justice involvement, etc.), and have a passion to improve the foster care system! Typically, Youth Advocates are members of their local youth advisory board, and help transfer information about NEYC back to their local youth advisory boards, and information about what’s happening in their state to NEYC!

  • The Normalcy Bill of Rights is NEYC’s biggest and most recent accomplishment. This Bill of Rights represents a negotiated consensus among New England Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors, DCF Offices, and youth in care from all the six New England states.

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    Our members become involved for a multitude of reasons! Here is an answer from a Youth Advocate:

    “I was exploring ways I could help change the foster care system… NEYC has allowed me to connect with youth from across the NE region who have had similar experiences. I feel validated by NEYC and its members because other members share my experiences and see them as normal” -Lily, RI

     

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    Members are expected to stay in touch with the person who brought them to that meeting, participate in monthly zoom meetings, and follow through on tasks they committed to. It’s always a bonus if they’re connected to their local youth advisory boards and can help transfer knowledge about NEYC back and forth.

    Communication is essential because we only meet in person once a year, so participation and attendance in monthly Zoom meetings are really important.

     

  • We understand not everyone can be at every meeting. Things come up– that is life! If a member can’t make it to a meeting, they should inform their Adult Supporter. The member should also take time to read NEYC’s follow-up email after the meeting, which will include meeting notes, including current/future projects, and next steps.

  • This is an important conversation to have with your Adult Supporter. From an NEYC perspective, yes, a youth should be able to return if they want to.