Uniting the Voices and Causes of Youth

Note: Don't forget to view and distribute our Youth M.O.V.E. National brochure which can be downloaded below.

At Youth MOVE National, we aim to do one thing: unite the voices and causes of youth around the country and change the various systems that serve them for the better. That has been our focus ever since we started back in 2003 when we were a small advisory board giving input on the issues that affected us. We've grown leaps and bounds since then, and as you will find through our organization we can only grow bigger and stronger as more and more youth and youth allies join our cause.

If you've never heard of us before now, it's time you did. Who are we? Youth M.O.V.E National is the only youth led national organization devoted to improving services and systems that support positive growth and development by uniting the voices of individuals who have lived experience in various systems including mental health, juvenile justice, education, and child welfare.

A lot to take in, right? Well, it's our mission and we're sticking to it. Historically, these systems have not given youth the right to a voice, the right to speak up and be heard on the issues that affect them. Because of this, we advocate for improvements.

We want every young person that enters a youth serving system to be prepared for life through genuine opportunities and authentic youth involvement throughout all systems levels.

We help guide the redevelopment of the systems so that no youth falls through the cracks. Ever.

We advocate for youth to utilize their power and expertise to foster change in their communities and in their own lives.

These values are what drives us. It's what makes us do what we do. As our mission statement points out, we look forward to the day when youth are no longer treated as numbers, problems or caseloads, but as individuals and humans.

So now that you know, what's next? Getting involved, of course. Being a youth-led organization, we can't do what we do without the support, dedication, motivation and input from youth just like you, or if you're a youth ally the support that your mentoring can give to youth, to want to be empowered and be Change Agents.

We encourage you to take a look around this website. There is much to learn and do here and, most importantly, a vast assortment of tools and resources to help you get involved. If you have any questions about our mission, our focus, or this website in general, don't hesitate to contact us using the form in the navigation bar or by calling us at 240.403.1901 or by email at youthmove@ffcmh.org.

Remember, we are Change Agents, and we 'Motivate Others through our Voices of Experience'.

Youth M.O.V.E. National

Change Agents