Social entrepreneurship programs like the Youth Advocate Program (YAP) solve social and economic issues within their communities through crowd-funding. YAP is an internationally recognized organization which provides community-based programs for youth groups. Founded in 1975, it runs several youth-family based programs to increase their successful transition into society (Silva et al., 2020). Some of these programs include juvenile justice rehabilitation and behavioral health to reduce the numbers of young families affected by the correctional system. Even health runs like obesity management programs in marginalized communities like the Cherokee Nation to ensure a well-functioning youth were organized by part of the YAP (CDC, 2017 ) . With the diversity in its programs, YAP is present in 20+ states with a higher projection in the coming years. The socio-economic impact on the youth and their families is immense as YAP focuses on individualized programs. Thus, many youth transitions from institutional placements or out-of-home-care systems like foster care homes to enhance individual blending ( Skattebol, & Blunden, 2019) .
The organization has partnered with local governmental institutions like the Chicago Mayor’s office, educational facilities like Lincoln Charter School, and international groups like Guatemalan Siembra Bien. Individuals, government institutions, and Federal Reserve’s fund it to serve more than 19,000 families annually in more than 20 states (Sanchez, 2019). The YAP website has an active donations placement where it encourages charitable donations for worthy causes. The donor can see where their donation goes; to the frontline where it is needed the most. Any social entrepreneurship programs are often successful when promoting advocacy for diverse programs like juvenile offenders or youth living with disabilities by partnering with local activist groups ( Goldstein, Hazy, & Silberstang, 2008) . It also reaches out directly to the youth affected by various life-changing issues through institutions in contact with them like the prison system.
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Doing this raises awareness of the different matters affecting the vulnerable youth and enhances fundraising efforts towards them. It also includes awareness programs on how society can help transition hardworking yet disadvantaged youth, which essentially is a publicity campaign. Lastly, the people who have benefitted from the various programs YAP offers to take it upon themselves to advocate for the immense benefits. Their testimonies are the brand ambassadorial work that YAP needs to increase its outreach.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, March 7). Communities Putting Prevention to Work. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/programs/CommunitiesPuttingPreventiontoWork/
Goldstein, J. A., Hazy, J. K., & Silberstang, J. (2008). Complexity and social entrepreneurship: A fortuitous meeting. Emergence: Complexity and Organization , 10 (3), 9.
Sanchez MPPM, M., & King, MSW, E. (2018). YAP Program Info Sheet.
Silva, D. J., Petrilla, C. M., Matteson, D., Mannion, S., & Huggins, S. L. (2020). Increasing Resilience in Youth and Families: YAP’s Wraparound Advocate Service Model. Child & Youth Services , 41 (1), 51-82.
Skattebol, J., & Blunden, H. (2019). Evaluation of the Youth Advocate Program.
