Youth Advocate Programmes Ireland (YAP Ireland) provides unique services using a strengths-based, needs led, family support, wraparound approach. YAP Ireland matches community-based advocates with those referred leading to more positive engagement and outcomes for young people, families and referrers.

Achieving Positive Outcomes

The YAP model is evidence-based, achieving positive outcomes with young people and families within their communities, through the employment of community based advocates. An individual service plan based on the strengths of the young person and their family is developed and offers a wraparound approach to address the needs of the young person within their family and local community. YAP’s goal is to empower young people and their families and to put in place supports that will remain after programme involvement has ended. The model is flexible and can be adapted to meet the needs of a wide range of client groups.

Principles of YAP Model

• Provides up to 15 hours of one-to-one support for a young person or family per week
• Flexible service tailored to specific needs which uses a strengths based, wraparound approach
• No Eject, No Reject policy and Never Give-Up Approach.
• Advocates are recruited from local communities
• Ability to respond rapidly, such as our Crisis Intervention Service.
• Six month model with Advocates dedicated to the case.
• Ability to provide service in any area where children are at risk or support is needed.
• On-call support service available to families and staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Outcomes measurement system in place to assess the impact of the YAP programme.
• Monitoring calls during the case gives parents/carers the opportunity to feedback to YAP on the quality of the service.
• Ability to respond quickly to set up services in new areas and respond to emerging needs.