Youth MOVE Champaign County
Youth MOVE Illinois and ACCESS Initiative has linked together to start a Youth MOVE chapter in Champaign County in effort to promote youth to Motivate Others through Voices of Experience by educating the community and spreading awareness about mental health. ACCESS Initiative empowers youth in Champaign County that have been impacted by mental health, juvenile justice, education, drug abuse, and child welfare to advocate for their rights and to have a voice in ACCESS Initiative’s System of Care. It is the vision of Youth MOVE to achieve an equal partnership among youth, community partners, and mental health professionals in order to insure that our youth fulfill their maximum potential in their school, home, and community.
Youth Advisory Board
The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a core group of active Youth MOVE members who serve as the “youth leadership council” for the ACCESS Initiative. They are responsible for participating on ACCESS Initiative committees, task forces, and work groups in representation of the youth voice for decision making, planning, executing, and evaluation of ACCESS Initiative’s System of Care. Youth Advisory Board members are expected to be role models in the community and be ambassadors between the youth of Champaign County, Youth MOVE, and ACCESS Initiative.
Youth Engagers
Youth Engagers are youth service providers and/or representatives from major areas of focus (i.e., juvenile justice, child and family services, mental health, education, and substance abuse), caregivers, parents, adults, and adult youth group coordinators and leaders that collaborate with the ACCESS Youth Advisory Board its subcommittees and working groups to shape and execute its strategic plan. They provide service, guidance, and coaching to the youth members of the Youth Advisory Board. As is the case with the Youth Advisory Board, this group will be self-directed yet maintain fidelity to the system of care values, approaches, and vision as outlined in our funded application. Youth Engagers collaborate with the Youth Advisory Board and its subcommittees, and provide input about the development and execution of the strategic plan of the Youth Advisory Board. They collaboratively identify youth development benchmarks, develop and advocate for expanded youth development principles, and create an environment for inter-agency collaboration, collaborative planning, and shared decision-making. Youth Engagers also respond to the needs of the youth in the community, Youth MOVE and the Youth Advisory Board.
Youth Engagement Specialist
Under the Supervision of the Project Director, this position has primary responsibility for cultivating and coordinating youth engagement, leadership, and development efforts throughout the ACCESS Initiative System of Care. In addition, the Youth Engagement Specialist manages the ACCESS Initiative’s Youth Advisory Board, conducts trainings, promotes positive youth development, serves on the governing board, and ensures youth are represented throughout the local governance structure.
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