Structure of Organization

Established in 2001, the Youth Advocacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is protecting and advancing the legal and human rights of children to promote their healthy development through active partnerships with local communities. YAF is housed in the Massachusetts juvenile public defender’s office, the Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), and supports initiatives and positions not funded by the state. YAF’s primary focus is a partnership with the EdLaw Project, which works to end the school-to-prison pipeline, a trend that pushes children and youth out of school and into the legal system, and leaves thousands of youth without access to quality education and without an opportunity for a healthy, thriving development.