Youth Advocate Programs
Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) is a 50-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering community-based wraparound services as alternatives to youth incarceration and residential placements across 34+ states, serving justice-involved youth and families via the YAPWrap® model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersHarrisburg, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Youth Advocate Programs does
Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit founded in 1975 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by Tom Jeffers, originally as a community-based alternative when Pennsylvania ordered the release of children detained at Camp Hill adult prison. Operating across 34+ states plus Washington, D.C. with 1,001–5,000 employees, YAP delivers community-based wraparound services through its proprietary YAPWrap® model as alternatives to youth incarceration, residential placements and neighborhood violence. The organization runs six core service lines — Youth Justice Services, Child Welfare, Behavioral Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Community-Based Safety Initiatives, and YAP® in Schools — supported by the YAPWORX™ workforce development sub-product, YAP Supported Work, and the employee-funded Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education.
YAP's revenue model is anchored in multi-year service contracts with state, county and municipal public systems (youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, education and public safety), supplemented by philanthropic grants (Communities Foundation of Texas, Boeing, Comcast NBCUniversal) and the Tom Jeffers Endowment. Services are delivered free to participants under a "no reject, no eject" policy by neighborhood-based Advocates drawn from the communities they serve. Documented outcomes — validated by John Jay College of Criminal Justice (86% arrest-free, <5% secure placement, ~90% community retention) and Georgetown Center for Juvenile Justice Reform ("Extremely Successful") — underpin contract renewals. Pricing economics are sharp: YAP wraparound services cost $311/week per youth vs. $2,207/week for detention, and the Santa Fe Youth Services FIT program costs $440/week vs. the same $2,207/week detention comparator.
The technology stack is anchored by Netsmart's electronic health record and health information exchange platform maintained under SOC 2 Type 2 standards, with evidence-based program curricula (SNAP®, Seven Challenges, ACRA, Seeking Safety, Botvin Life Skills, Strengthening Families) implemented programmatically rather than algorithmically. Governance rests with a Board of Directors led since May 2026 by Board Chair Clarence Campbell (SVP, Freedom Federal Credit Union), with Gary Ivory serving as President and CEO. The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 and has expanded operations while absorbing episodic program-level funding shocks (Dallas CRED closure February 17, 2025; Tarrant County contract termination and reversal July–October 2024).
Youth Advocate Programs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Youth Advocate Programs
- Legal name
- Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.
- Website
- https://yapinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) is a 50-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering community-based wraparound services as alternatives to youth incarceration and residential placements across 34+ states, serving justice-involved youth and families via the YAPWrap® model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Youth Advocate Programs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Youth and Family Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Substance Use Prevention & Student Assistance Programs (School-Based) (EDAKAMAJ)
Keywords
Where Youth Advocate Programs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Harrisburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
Youth Advocate Programs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government System Contracts: Primary revenue source from contracts with public systems including youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, education, and public safety agencies. Services delivered as alternatives to incarceration, residential care, and out-of-home placement.
- Philanthropic Support: Funding from foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Includes grants from organizations like Communities Foundation of Texas, Boeing, and Comcast NBCUniversal.
- Employee-Funded Endowment: Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education primarily funded through YAP employee donations via voluntary payroll deductions. Provides scholarships to current and former program participants.
- Program Cost Subsidies: YAP subsidizes government contracts with national donor funds when contract dollars don't cover costs. For example, subsidized Tarrant County contracts with $113,192 in FY and $192,000 in prior FY.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Government Contract - Youth Justice Services |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Government Contract - Substance Use Services |
| Other | Annual | Endowment Scholarships |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Youth Advocate Programs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) is a national nonprofit that delivers community-based wraparound services through its proprietary YAPWrap® model, providing neighborhood-based Advocates who connect youth, young adults, and families with individualized educational, economic, and emotional tools. Service lines include Youth Justice Services (diversion and alternatives to incarceration), Child Welfare Services, Behavioral Health Programs (including Medicaid YES Waiver), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services, Community-Based Safety Initiatives (violence interruption), and YAP® in Schools. Programs operate under a 'no reject, no eject' policy and are delivered in homes, schools, and community sites across 34+ states plus Washington, D.C.
Product overview
Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®) is a national nonprofit organization offering community-based social services as a unified platform-plus-programs model centered on the YAPWrap® wraparound services methodology. The core YAPWrap® model powers multiple service lines: Youth Justice Services (diversion and alternatives to incarceration), Child Welfare Services, Behavioral Health Programs, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services, Community-Based Safety Initiatives (violence interruption), and YAP® in Schools. Supporting the core model are workforce development programs (YAPWORX™, YAP Supported Work), the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund scholarship, regional programs including Santa Fe Youth Services (substance use, family, and life skills programming), Dallas CRED violence interruption, Alternatives to Violence (Charlotte), and YES Waiver mental health services in Texas. Programs also include evidence-based curriculums such as SNAP®, Seven Challenges, ACRA, Seeking Safety, Botvin Life Skills, and Strengthening Families. All services follow a 'no reject, no eject' policy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- YAPWrap® Wraparound Services
- Youth Justice Services
- Child Welfare Services
- Behavioral Health Programs
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services
- Community-Based Safety Initiatives
- YAP® in Schools
- YAPWORX™ Workforce Development
- YAP Supported Work
- Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education
- Dallas CRED (Community Resilience Initiative)
- Santa Fe Youth Services
- Alternatives to Violence (ATV)
- STOP NOW AND PLAN (SNAP®) Programs
- YES Waiver Services
- Seven Challenges Program
- ACRA (Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach)
- Seeking Safety
- Recovery Advocate Program (RAP)
- Strengthening Families Program
- Botvin Life Skills Training
- Families in Transition (FIT)
- Training and Consulting Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% of YAP youth justice participants remain arrest-free 6-12 months after program completion
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Youth Advocate Programs
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Youth Advocate Programs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Youth Advocate Programs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- City of DallascoreYAP launched Dallas CRED in May 2021 under a contract with the City of Dallas to include violence interrupters in its public safety strategy. The violence interruption approach was recommended as part of the Mayor's Task Force on Safe Communities. Program served four neighborhoods targeting highest-risk individuals for violence engagement.
- Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)corePartnership for OVR My Work summer employment program placing youth with disabilities in jobs across Pennsylvania. In fourth year, program expanded to provide employment experiences to 280 participants with almost 80 employers.
- Olivet Boys and Girls Club of Reading & Berks CountyminorEmployer partner hosting YAP program participants for summer employment as camp counselors at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club.
- Hope Rescue MissionminorNonprofit employer partner providing work opportunities for YAP program participants in Berks County, PA.
- LGBT Center of Greater ReadingminorNonprofit employer partner providing work opportunities for YAP program participants in Berks County, PA.
- City of CharlottecorePartnership with City of Charlotte to provide Alternatives to Violence through street outreach targeting Beatties Ford Road corridor and West Blvd/Remount Road areas. Program disrupts violence by mediating conflict and preventing retaliation.
- Mecklenburg CountycoreCounty partnership for Alternatives to Violence program targeting individuals aged 14-25 identified as most at risk of violence. Partners with city to serve specific Charlotte neighborhoods.
- NetsmartcoreKansas-based health information technology company providing electronic health records and health information exchanges for behavioral health and human services. Maintains SOC 2 Type 2 security standards for data protection.
- Child Development Institute - SNAP ProgrammajorYAP implements SNAP (Stop Now and Plan) evidence-based cognitive-behavioral program developed by Child Development Institute. Program teaches youth ages 6-17 how to pause, think through situations, and make better choices.
- Cure Violence GlobalmajorYAP combines its YAPWrap model with Cure Violence Global's violence interruption approach for programs like Dallas CRED. Cure Violence Global tracking monitors program outcomes.
- John Jay College of Criminal JusticemajorResearch partnership producing evidence on YAP outcomes including 86% arrest-free rate and <5% secure placement rate for youth justice participants.
- Georgetown University Center for Juvenile Justice ReformmajorGeorgetown research found alternative-to-incarceration startups including YAP to be 'Extremely Successful' in serving youth with felony offenses.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Youth Advocate Programs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Youth Villages: National nonprofit providing intensive in-home services, residential programs, and transitional living for at-risk youth. Operates Wraparound services similar to YAPWrap across multiple states, competing directly for government child welfare and juvenile justice contracts.
- Pressley Ridge: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit providing community-based, residential, and educational services for children and families involved with child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Directly comparable wraparound and alternatives-to-detention model.
- Eckerd Connects: Nonprofit providing workforce development, juvenile justice, and child welfare services across multiple states. Competes with YAP for federal and state contracts and operates community-based alternatives to incarceration programs.
- KVC Health Systems: National nonprofit providing child welfare, behavioral health, and foster care services across multiple states. Closely comparable model with in-home and community-based services funded through government contracts.
- KidsPeace: National nonprofit providing behavioral health, residential, and community-based programs for at-risk youth and families. Direct competitor for child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health contracts in overlapping geographies.
- Communities In Schools: National nonprofit providing school-based support and case management for at-risk students. Highly comparable to YAP's 'YAP in Schools' service line and student support case management operations.
- Children's Home Society of California: California-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and child welfare services. Comparable model of community-based wraparound services for system-involved youth in a YAP-served geography.
Broad incumbents
- Boys Town: Historic national nonprofit serving at-risk youth and families with residential, in-home, and community-based programs. Larger and more brand-recognizable than YAP, with overlapping service lines in behavioral health and family support.
- Volunteers of America: Large national nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and youth services across all 50 states. Broader portfolio than YAP but directly overlaps in youth justice, foster care, and community-based safety initiatives.
Emerging players
- Cure Violence Global: National nonprofit deploying public health approach to violence interruption in cities across the U.S. and internationally. YAP already partners with Cure Violence on Dallas CRED; overlaps directly in the violence interruption segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Youth Advocate Programs social profiles
Digital presenceYouth Advocate Programs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Youth Advocate Programs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Youth Advocate Programs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Youth Advocate Programs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Youth Advocate Programs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Youth Advocate Programs
What does Youth Advocate Programs do?
Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) is a national nonprofit that delivers community-based wraparound services through its proprietary YAPWrap® model, providing neighborhood-based Advocates who connect youth, young adults, and families with individualized educational, economic, and emotional tools. Service lines include Youth Justice Services (diversion and alternatives to incarceration), Child Welfare Services, Behavioral Health Programs (including Medicaid YES Waiver), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services, Community-Based Safety Initiatives (violence interruption), and YAP® in Schools. Programs operate under a 'no reject, no eject' policy and are delivered in homes, schools, and community sites across 34+ states plus Washington, D.C.
Is Youth Advocate Programs a public or private company?
Youth Advocate Programs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Youth Advocate Programs founded?
Youth Advocate Programs was founded in 1975. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Youth Advocate Programs based?
Youth Advocate Programs is headquartered in Harrisburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Youth Advocate Programs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government System Contracts are the primary driver. The others are philanthropic Support, employee-Funded Endowment and program Cost Subsidies.
Who are Youth Advocate Programs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Youth Villages, Pressley Ridge, Eckerd Connects, KVC Health Systems, KidsPeace, Communities In Schools and Children's Home Society of California. Broad incumbents are Boys Town and Volunteers of America. Cure Violence Global is listed as an emerging player.
Does Youth Advocate Programs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Youth Advocate Programs.
What industry is Youth Advocate Programs in?
Youth Advocate Programs's product category is Community Youth and Family Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.