Name of group: Virginia Youth Advisory Council
When started: 2010
Advocating for: the 6,712 foster youth in Virginia
Sponsoring non-profit organization: UMFS, Project LIFE. The goal of UMFS is to provide a network of human services to enable children and families to realize their hopes for the future; Project Life ‘s goal is to coordinate and enhance the provision of independent living services to foster care youth who are about to transition out of foster care.
Accomplishments:
- Action Network trainers trained 50 Virginia youth from all 5 regions on how to conduct a “Youth Shout Out” in their region later this Fall. A “Shout Out” event gives youth in that region an opportunity to identify issues they are passionate about and make specific policy recommendations on how to make improvements in those areas.
- In early July, Action Network training team delivered a two-day leadership and goal setting training for the Virginia Youth Advisory Board State Council.
- Action Network training team delivered two workshops at the Independent Living Program Conference in Roanoke on March 19. The workshops focused on recruitment, and encouraging other youth to join the regional advisory councils and the state council.
- Established five regional youth advisory councils and a state council since summer 2010
