About Us

YLAT is an organization that is comprised of The Maine Youth who reside in State Custody, their guardians, case workers, children, and other important adults in their lives. YLAT is a cooperative effort between The Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service and the Department of Human Services. YLAT members are both professionals and youth in care. YLAT staff works with other youth in care to develop meaningful trainings and events. Trainings have include GLBTQ youth in care, Sibling Rights, and Youth and Technology. The yearly youth summit, teen conference, and nation wide trips are all planned and arragend by YLAT members.

Our Mission is ...

• To create, generate and guide the Bureau of Child and Family Services policies that support the individual needs, goals, opportunities, and relationships to ensure that children/youth in care are well taken care of and prepared for their futures.
• To help kids/youth in foster care to be and feel safe.
• To educate people about who kids/youth in foster care really are.
• For youth to feel more comfortable about being in care. To provide a way to communitcate with other youth in care, foster parents and caseworkeers.
• To provide a fun, exciting, interactive and educational way for youth in care to communicate with other youth in care.
• To give younger youth a clearer idea of what is taking place in their lives and that they are not alone.

There are currently 6 regional groups of YLAT. These groups are run by the local Life Skills Independent Living case workers. To find out who the contact person is for your region click HERE.