YAP Ireland

YAP Ireland website

About YAP Ireland

YAP Ireland became a registered charity in March 2009 and is managed by a Board of Directors. We currently operate in 12 area's - Dublin North and City, Dublin South, Limerick City and County, Galway, Roscommon, Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Kerry and Kildare - and we expect to expand further in the next year. We currently employ 26 permanent staff and approx. 100 advocates on a fixed term basis and we offered 393 places to young people and their families in 2010 throughout the programmes. The young people who are referred to YAP are at high risk of placement in care, secure care and custody and present with a range of inter-connected difficulties around their home, education, peer groups, behaviour and community ( Level 3 and 4 on the Hardiker Scale). The intensive support of up to 15 hrs a week over 6 months provided to young people and their families using a strengths based, needs led approach leads to positive outcomes for the young people, their families and referral agents. A YAP place is also an extremely economical alternative to the high financial, emotional and behavioural costs of custodial and care placements. Indeed, the cost per place has reduced in the past number of years to an average of between E11,500 to 13,500 depending on the number on the programme and the level of need of young people and families.

YAP Ireland's Mission

YAP Ireland in partnership with young people, families and communities and using a strengths based, intensive support model keeps young people in their communities and out of care/custody.

YAP Ireland's Values

Empowerment
We support individuals to become aware of their strengths in order to realise their full potential.

Equality & Respect
We treat each individual fairly, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, offending background, marital status and political affiliation.

Non-judgemental
We approach each and every individual, service and situation with an open, non-blaming perspective which creates a spirit of partnership and cooperation.

Evidence based practice
We believe in the value of assessing, evaluating and reflecting on our practice so that we continually provide a high quality service to our young people and families.

Honesty & Integrity
We ensure honesty and integrity in all aspects of the organisation.

YAP Ireland's History

The Youth Advocate Programme Ireland was established in Ireland in 2002 in the areas of North Dublin, Galway, Roscommon and Mayo. The Youth Advocate Programme, a private, non-profit, family support initiative, was established in Pennsylvania in 1975 for juvenile offenders returning to the community after spending time in correctional institutions. In its initial three months, the programme served over one hundred young people by helping them to reintegrate into the community through the support and intervention of hired 'advocates'. The model was considered successful and soon after was implemented in a number of states across America. Now YAP Inc, is a major provider of strengths based, needs led advocacy programmes for thousands of young people and families across the US and YAP Ireland are delighted to be the first affiliate programme.