Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
Purpose
- Advocacy: Youth advisory boards advocate for the needs and rights of homeless youth.
- Policy Input: They provide feedback on existing and proposed policies and programs related to youth homelessness.
- Program Development: They help shape the design and implementation of services by offering insights into what works best for young people.
- Community Engagement: They raise awareness about youth homelessness and promote community understanding and support.
- System Improvement: By sharing their experiences, they help identify gaps and areas for improvement in the system of care for homeless youth.
Park Place Youth Action Board (YAB): Youth-Led Change in Action
Park Place’s Youth Action Board (YAB) is dedicated to authentic collaboration with youth and young adults who have lived experience with homelessness. YAB works to bridge gaps among peers—fostering connection, mutual support, and advocacy for meaningful change. By partnering directly with the community and local stakeholders, YAB is actively transforming harmful and ineffective systems into ones rooted in care, equity, and opportunity.
Park Place is currently recruiting individuals aged 24 and under who are passionate about creating positive change in their community. Board members play a vital role in ensuring that local services and supports genuinely reflect the needs, voices, and lived experiences of youth.
Participation in YAB offers young people the chance to strengthen their leadership and advocacy skills while contributing to community transformation. Many members describe the empowering experience of using their voice to uplift others. Together, YAB members improve youth-serving systems, raise awareness, and spark broader community engagement and support.