1. Youth Leadership Advisory Team (Maine)
YLAT
Youth Leadership Advisory Team
(Maine)

2. Who We Are….
Since 1998, YLAT has brought together young people involved with Maine’s child welfare system and adult partners; giving them the opportunity to develop leadership and advocacy skills to create positive systemic changes and improved outcomes for youth in care.
YLAT’s statewide activities engage youth in supporting one another, advocating for change and educating the child welfare system. These activities include:
YLAT meetings
Panel presentations
Leadership trainings
Advising policy makers & legislators
The Annual Teen Conference.

3. The Department of Health & Human Services
Our Values
Strong youth-adult partnerships create a foundation for YLAT’s success and play a powerful role in improving foster care experiences for all youth in care in Maine. Our core values affirm that each youth and adult partner:
Brings Expertise
Exercises Leadership
Changes & Grows
Is Fully Included
Gives & Receives Respect
YLAT prepares and engages youth and Alumni of foster care to work with these systems:
The Department of Health & Human Services
State legislature
Courts
Service providers
The community
to promote youth-centered laws, policies and practices and to raise awareness about the needs of youth in care.

4. Impact
Developed legislation for the Tuition Waiver for youth in foster care
Developed a Permanency Policy
Created the Youth in Care Bill of Rights and Sibling Bill of Rights
First in the nation to pass legislation to provide financial support for post secondary education for youth over the age of 21
Trained caseworkers to implement the Strengthening Families Act and provided tools that engage youth in case planning
Created an Alumni Policy group, IMPACT (Improving Maine Policy As a Collaborative Team)
Hosted first Annual Policy Summit at Maine’s Legislature
We are committed to engaging youth and making YLAT more accessible to young people across the state; we have seen at 28% increase in our attendance since 2014.
Partnered with the Gateway to Opportunities program to create a YLAT recruitment video
Incorporated Alumni Co-Facilitators into the YLAT model

5. WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON NOW?
Elevate the voice and presence of the IMPACT group related to issues around issues that impact youth in foster care (i.e. Medicaid Waiver)
Drafting LGBTQ+ Policy with OCFS & Community Partners
Provide foster parents training around healthy sexual identity and development in partnership with Maine Family Planning, AFFM and OCFS
Creating an App of resources for youth in care
Continue to develop resources that will support young people transitioning from the foster care system to achieve educational success and economic security

6. Maine’s Youth Leadership Advisory Team
THANK YOU!
Maine’s Youth Leadership Advisory Team
Contact Information:
Shannon Saxby, MSW
34 Bedford Street Portland, ME 04101
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