Youth Matter!
This month the TA Partnership Newsletter introduces a new special feature, the Youth Matter! column. Similar to its counterpart, Families Matter!, this new semi-monthly feature will focus on current issues, events, policies, and practices designed for and around youth involvement in system of care communities.
Youth Motivating Others through Voices of Experience National (Youth M.O.V.E. National) is a youth-led organization committed to advocating for policy change in policy on behalf of youth with mental health challenges at the local, State and national level. The organization started as the National Youth Development Board in 2003 before changing its name to Youth M.O.V.E. in 2005.
From its inception the organization has served as a beacon to the system of care youth movement, demonstrating that youth can persevere beyond personal challenges and speak eloquently about the issues in their lives and in the lives of other young people. Youth M.O.V.E. National has an unwavering commitment to eliminating stigma; raising awareness of the needs of youth who experience mental illness; and advocating for authentic youth involvement in the decision-making systems that affect their lives. Its board members advocate for youth involvement in a variety of initiatives and serve as speakers and presenters at a broad range of conferences focused on serving children with mental health needs and their families. Board members are also involved in a variety of projects including training communities on how to involve youth in system transformation efforts, enhancing training opportunities for youth at National conferences, and developing youth-friendly advocacy and resource tools to empower young people to be more involved in their own treatment.
Youth M.O.V.E. National is a youth-led national organization devoted to improving services and systems that support positive growth and development by uniting the voices of individuals who have lived experience in various systems including mental health, juvenile justice, education, and child welfare.
Youth M.O.V.E. National’s current focus is on building an infrastructure that will support their goals to become a sustainable, independent, youth-led organization with local chapters across the country. The board of eight is in the process of dynamic growth and change. In 2007 alone, the board has positioned itself for significant growth, recently became a subsidiary of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health (the Federation). The Federation provides mentoring and infrastructure support to Youth M.O.V.E. and has helped in the hiring of leadership and support for the organization. In November 2007, the board hired its first Director, Carl Yonder, who will be responsible for supporting the board’s efforts to build a solid financial base and strategic plan for moving forward. The organization also declared its official name to be Youth M.O.V.E. National in recognition of plans to develop local chapters across the country.
The Youth M.O.V.E. National board receives nominations for board members on a rolling basis and plans to expand to a total of thirteen members in coming months. The membership includes youth and adults, eighteen and older, from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds and experiences located across the country. To learn more about Youth M.O.V.E. National or how you can get involved contact Carl Yonder at (240) 403-1901 or CYonder@ffcmh.org.