Youth Advisory Board

Embrace Families’ Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is an advocacy group led by current and former youth in foster care. Working together, the group identifies and provides solutions focused on the continued improvement of Florida’s foster care system.

Who’s invited to join?

Teens and young adults between the ages of 13-23, that are, or ever have been, in foster care are encouraged to join. YAB participation is open to all genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, cultural or religious backgrounds.

When do we meet?

Monthly YAB meetings are held in each county of the Central Florida region. (Note: Meetings are currently being held virtually, via Zoom, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month.)

What are we working to accomplish? 

Participation teaches self-advocacy, self-esteem, team building, leadership and public speaking skills. Through this group, social connections are established and real action is taken.  For example, past board members have successfully advocated for ground-breaking legislation, including passage of the Keys to Independence legislation that has broadly expanded access to driver’s licenses and insurance for teens in foster care statewide

What has this group accomplished?

As advocates for themselves and others, the YAB has become a strong voice representing the needs and rights of young people in Florida’s foster care system.  Accomplishments to date include:

• Trained over 75 professionals in the social services field.
• Testified in front of the Florida Senate.
• Endorsed legislation that led to establishment of Keys to Independence, the nation’s first driver’s license program for youth in care.
• Hosted over 70 life skills trainings.
• Developed and deployed a survey on the rights of youth in foster care.

How do I get involved?

To learn more about Embrace Families’ Youth Advisory Board, complete and submit the form below or email Kendall.Seifert@EmbraceFamilies.org