Youth MOVE National

What Youth MOVE National does

Youth MOVE National is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered virtually in the United States, founded in 1999 and incorporated as an independent entity in 2012 (EIN 453792486). The organization exists to advance youth-driven advocacy and peer support across mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, and foster care systems, with a board that is mandated to be at least 60% youth and young adults with lived experience and currently exceeds 92% youth representation. YMN operates through a national network of 50+ chapters across 14+ states that deliver local advocacy, stigma reduction, and programming reaching over 21,000 individuals directly in 2023 and 478,124 through ripple-effect engagement in 2025.

The core product portfolio centers on Peer Connect—the first and only national youth peer support certification, offering a 40-hour specialist track, a 20-hour supervisor track, and Train-the-Trainer and Legacy pathways for states and agencies—supplemented by the 18-hour Youth Advocate Leadership Academy (YALA) and validated assessment instruments (Y-VAL, Y-VOC, and What Helps, What Harms) developed with Portland State University. Service offerings include customized consulting (600+ annual requests), peer-reviewed publications, and resource toolkits (#Things2Consider guides), delivered through a fully virtual operating model. Technology underpinning includes standard video conferencing (Zoom), survey platforms (Qualtrics, QuestionPro, Google Forms), and learning management systems; the proprietary moat is the peer-reviewed certification content and validated instruments, not platform technology.

YMN's revenue model is mixed: federal grants (principally SAMHSA) form the primary revenue line and funded the Youth MOVE Peer Center from 2020 through its sunset in March 2026, supplemented by consulting services on a sliding-scale basis, training program fees, and individual donations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; consulting is offered on multi-year contracts with sliding scale, YALA and Peer Connect training fees are obtained by inquiry, and free monthly continued-learning sessions sustain engagement with certified alumni. Customer segments are hybrid—youth and young adults with lived experience as the primary persona, plus state behavioral health systems, youth-serving organizations, federal agencies, and local youth groups as business-unit customers—and revenue concentration is meaningful given dependency on the SAMHSA grant.

Name

Youth MOVE National

Legal name

Youth MOVE National

Website

https://youthmovenational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Youth MOVE National is a virtual, youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 50+ chapter U.S. network that delivers the Peer Connect youth peer support certification, leadership training, validated youth-voice assessments, and consulting to state behavioral health systems and youth-serving organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Peer Support and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

Keywords

• Youth peer support
• Mental health advocacy
• Peer support certification
• Youth leadership training
• Systems change consulting

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: Primary revenue source from federal grants, particularly from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). The organization operated the only federally funded youth-led training and technical assistance center (2020-2026) under grant 1H79SM082658-01.
2. Consulting Services: Customized consulting packages for organizations seeking to strengthen youth engagement. Over 600 consulting requests annually. Offers sliding scale pricing. Services include youth peer support implementation, youth engagement strategy, data and evaluation, and program start-up support.
3. Training Programs: Revenue from training programs including Youth Advocate Leadership Academy (YALA) and Peer Connect certification training. Contact for pricing on leadership academy programs.
4. Donations: Individual donations and support through website donation functionality. Platinum Transparency Seal from Candid demonstrates commitment to financial transparency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Youth MOVE National is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a national network of 50+ chapters delivering peer support, advocacy training, and leadership development for systems-impacted youth ages 13-29. The organization offers the Peer Connect certification program (the first and only national youth peer support certification), customized consulting services for organizations seeking authentic youth engagement, and validated assessment tools (Y-VAL, What Helps What Harms) used by agencies and state behavioral health systems.

Product overview

Youth MOVE National operates a multi-faceted portfolio of youth advocacy and mental health programs, organized around a core Chapter Network (50+ chapters nationwide) that provides grassroots youth-led programming, supplemented by national-scale certification and training products (Peer Connect certification, Youth Advocate Leadership Academy), assessment tools (Y-VAL, What Helps, What Harms), consulting services, and annual campaigns/recognition programs. The Chapter Network serves as the grassroots foundation while national programs like Peer Connect and YALA drive workforce development and leadership training at scale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peer Connect Certification Program National youth peer support certification, accreditation, workforce development, and implementation model offering 40-hour specialist certification, 20-hour supervisor certification, and Train-the-Trainer pathways for states and agencies seeking to build youth peer support workforces.
• Youth MOVE Chapters Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of consulting recipients reported meaningful community impact, and more than half return for additional training and technical assistance support
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (NFFCMH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Youth MOVE National originated from youth within NFFCMH. The National Youth Development Board (NYDB) was integrated into NFFCMH in 2003 before evolving into Youth MOVE National in 2007 and becoming independent in 2012.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Federal partner providing grant funding since 2002. YMN was key content partner for SAMHSA's BRSS TACS and established the National Commission on Youth Peer Support and Practice Standards with SAMHSA funding (2014-2017). Operated federally funded youth-led TA center (2020-2026).
• Pathways RTC (Portland State University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with researchers at Pathways RTC to develop the Y-VAL assessment tool. Co-developed validated assessment measuring youth voice in agency-level decision making.
• Family-Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with FREDLA under contract with SAMHSA to publish report on Operationalizing and Funding Youth and Parent Peer Support Roles in Residential Treatment Settings (2020).
• National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministered federal technical assistance grants under SAMHSA. YMN worked with NTTAC on multiple initiatives including Peer Center operations and standards development.
• World Health OrganizationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErnesto Isaac Lara serves as advisor and consultant to WHO in addition to his role as Board President of Youth MOVE National.
• Mental Health America, NAMImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErnesto Isaac Lara serves as advisor and consultant to these national mental health organizations.
• Harvard Medical School / Mental Health for All LabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErnesto Isaac Lara leads the EMPOWER Peer Support Initiative at Harvard Medical School, developing digital global peer support curriculum.
• Active MindsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJorge Alvarez serves as Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Active Minds. Youth MOVE National collaborates with this leading youth mental health nonprofit.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth MOVE National played pivotal role in developing the 988 Lifeline framework. Staff continue to serve on its advisory council, building relational youth-informed approaches into national crisis responses.
• Portlands State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMN collaborated with Pathways RTC at Portland State University on Y-VAL development and validation study. Also partnered on Training Needs of Peer and Non-Peer Transition Service Providers national survey.
• Rutgers UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on research study examining antipsychotic treatment for youth in foster care, published in American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (2021).
• WestatmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on National Evaluation of SAMHSA's Children's Mental Health Initiative, contributing to Report to Congress on CMHI expansion and sustainability grantees.
• University of WashingtonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on The Ripple Effects Study examining ripple effects associated with EBI implementation strategies in children's mental health services.
• Peer Support National Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMN serves as partner organization and founding member of the Peer Support National Advisory Council.
• National Youth Peer Support CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMN serves as founding member of the National Youth Peer Support Coalition.
• People Organized for Wellness, Empowerment, and Recovery (POWER) CoalingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMN serves as founding member of POWER Coaling, demonstrating long-standing credibility and influence in peer support field.
• Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Robert Penfold is a health services researcher at this institute, focusing on behavioral health care delivery and child/teen mental health research.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMN's model directly informed national youth peer support standards established by DHHS and SAMHSA, including changes related to the Affordable Care Act (2012).
• National Empowerment CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for MOVE It Forward campaign providing free eCPR (Emotional CPR) training for youth and young adults ages 16-25.
• American Academy of PediatricsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Children's Mental Health Awareness Month Week 2 intergenerational mentorship programming.
• YMCA of the USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for intergenerational mentorship roundtable during Children's Mental Health Awareness Month.
• National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCTSN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Week 3 'Transition to Adulthood' programming during Children's Mental Health Awareness Month.
• braveONEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for intergenerational mentorship roundtable during Children's Mental Health Awareness Month.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health: Parent organization of YMN's predecessor (NYDB integrated into NFFCMH in 2003). Operates the same family-youth behavioral health network and frequently co-advocates on state and federal policy, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Active Minds: Youth mental health nonprofit that builds student-led chapters on college and high school campuses. YMN executive Jorge Alvarez is on Active Minds' staff, and the two organizations share a youth-led, peer-support-oriented model for engaging young people in mental health.
• The Trevor Project: National nonprofit providing crisis intervention and peer support for LGBTQ+ youth. Trevor's peer workforce model and crisis-line infrastructure closely parallel YMN's Peer Connect certification and 988 Lifeline involvement, targeting overlapping youth populations.

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health America: Large national mental health advocacy and education nonprofit that screens, educates, and advocates around mental health, including for youth. YMN staff serve as advisors to MHA, and both organizations compete for foundation and federal grant dollars in the youth mental health space.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): The largest grassroots mental health advocacy organization in the U.S., with affiliated state organizations and youth-focused programming. NAMI is a comparable peer because it leads national peer-led education and advocacy efforts that overlap with YMN's training and certification work.
• JED Foundation: National nonprofit protecting teen and young adult emotional health and preventing suicide through school and university partnerships. JED overlaps with YMN in youth mental health workforce development and policy advocacy.

Emerging players

• Born This Way Foundation: Foundation co-founded by Lady Gaga focused on youth mental health and kindness, partnering with peer-led youth programming. Comparable to YMN as a youth-centered funder and field-builder in the peer support ecosystem.

Regional players

• National Center for Child Traumatic Stress: SAMHSA-funded national treatment and research network addressing child trauma. NCTSN partners with YMN on programming and shares federal funding sources, making it a comparable peer in youth trauma-informed systems change.

Others

• Pathways Research and Training Center (Portland State University): Research partner that co-developed YMN's Y-VAL assessment. Operates as an academic research center focused on youth mental health transitions and workforce, providing a comparable methodology and standards-setting function adjacent to YMN's certification work.
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Professional association that partners with YMN on Children's Mental Health Awareness Week programming. While not a direct peer, AAP is a comparable standards-setter and referral partner for youth mental health and peer support policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/youthmove
• Facebookfacebook.com/YouthMOVENational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-move-national
• Instagraminstagram.com/youthmove

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Youth MOVE National