Youth Advocate Programs launches new therapy model and global leadership institute

By AI, Created 9:41 AM UTC, June 02, 2026, /AGP/ – Youth Advocate Programs is expanding its community-based alternatives to youth incarceration with a new cognitive behavioral therapy layer and a global training institute. The moves aim to scale evidence-based services for high-risk youth and families in the U.S. and abroad.

Why it matters: - Youth Advocate Programs is adding new tools to keep high-risk youth out of incarceration and residential placement. - The expansion also gives the nonprofit a way to train more practitioners in evidence-based youth services, including partners outside the U.S. - The announcement comes as the organization pushes for more donor, government, philanthropic and corporate support to scale its model.

What happened: - Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. announced YAP Pursuing Excellence®, a new intervention model that adds cognitive behavioral therapy to the organization’s YAPWrap® community-based youth and family services. - The nonprofit also plans to launch the YAP Global Leadership Institute to train practitioners and partners in delivering youth services in their communities. - Youth Advocate Programs operates in 32 states and Washington, D.C. - The organization said the initiatives are designed to expand alternatives to youth incarceration nationwide and scale proven interventions globally.

The details: - YAP Pursuing Excellence® builds on YAPWrap®, a 50-year-old model focused on comprehensive community-based youth and family support. - YAPWrap® has been recognized by the National Institute of Justice and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as a promising community-based individual and family wraparound program. - John Jay College of Criminal Justice research found 86% of YAP youth justice participants remained arrest-free. - The same research found nearly 90% of participants still lived in their communities six to 12 months after completing the program. - Fewer than 5% of participants were in secure placement. - Gary Ivory, president and CEO of Youth Advocate Programs, said the organization is seeking to enhance donor funding to expand YAP Pursuing Excellence®. - Ivory said YAP uses a no-reject, no-eject approach to referrals from youth justice, child welfare and other system partners. - The company said GLI details will be released in the coming months. - The institute will provide coaching, training and technical assistance to practitioners in the U.S. and abroad. - In 2025, YAP launched YAP® Alumni Ambassadors to let former participants share outcome stories and testify before city councils, state legislators and Congress. - As part of its Bringing Systems Change work, YAP said its efforts have contributed to reducing violence rates in Baltimore, Charlotte and other cities. - Corporations and individuals can support YAP through donations or workforce development partnerships. - More information is available at the organization’s website.

Between the lines: - YAP is pairing program expansion with public advocacy and alumni storytelling to strengthen its case for funding and broader adoption. - The institute suggests the nonprofit wants to turn its service model into a trainable framework that can be replicated beyond its current footprint. - The focus on global capacity building signals a move from direct service delivery toward influence, training and systems change.

What’s next: - YAP Global Leadership Institute details are expected in the coming months. - The nonprofit is looking for new government, philanthropic, corporate and community partnerships to support expansion. - YAP says sustainable donor support will be key to growing services for more young people and families in American and global communities.