YLAT affects change
The relationships between adults in the system and youth leaders, when purposeful and mutually respectful, have been powerful tools for change. Through these youth and adult collaborations, youth have influenced the system to be more responsive to the needs of all youth. Here are some great examples of steps that we have taken to affect change.
- Sibling Placement and Visitation.
YLAT members helped draft Department policy about siblings, and when policy alone was not enough to ensure that siblings in care were able to visit siblings remaining with the parent, the team lobbied successfully for new legislation. http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/policy/index.html?v__e_1__sibling_placement_and_.htm (policy)
http://mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/22/title22sec4068.html (law) 
Extension of Care.
When the decades-old policy and process for keeping youth in care from age 18 to 21, if they wished to stay, came up for review, the Department and YLAT worked together on the revision. YLAT influenced changes both in the “V-9” paperwork and in the ways that caseworkers were required to explain the option. Most importantly, at YLAT’s request, the Department changed policy so that if a young person initially chose not to sign a V-9 agreement and exited care at 18, he or she could subsequently petition to reopen the case.
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/v95.htm- Case record confidentiality. YLAT youth influenced the Department not to implement a proposed policy change, which would have allowed birth parents to share case record information with the media. As the youth argued, they want to be consulted before information about them which is contained in their case records is publicly released.
- Permission to Participate. YLAT youth found participating in school activities such as sports and field trips was always a hassle. Their caseworker needed to sign a permission slip for each event. At times, the slow turnaround time on obtaining signatures kept youth from joining in activities. Similarly, to spend the night at a friend’s house required permission from the caseworker, who often times wanted a background check on the friend and friend’s family before agreeing. Because of youth feedback, the Department changed policy, creating a single, blanket permission slip for caseworkers to sign and allowing foster parents to make decisions about whether youth could participate in school and social activities. The Department and YLAT also worked with the state legislature to have this policy change approved. http://mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/22/title22sec4067.html