The Youth Action Board (YAB) is a collective of young individuals dedicated to eradicating homelessness by incorporating the voices and insights of youth. The YAB is committed to it’s mission of ending youth homelessness through the following key focus areas:

• Amplify Youth & Young Adult Voices

• Foster Community Commitment

• Ensure Access to Mainstream Programs

• Offer Training and Development Opportunities

Agenda for 4/8:

Ames YAB Reset

Date: April 8, 2026
Location: Ames (YSS)
Purpose: Build shared understanding of YAB, connect youth and providers, and begin shaping Ames YAB together

Welcome

• What makes today different (reset + build together)

• Success = we leave with one real decision (Tech Policy)

Opening Reflection — Fair vs. Unfair

Focus: Establish shared values

• What makes something feel fair?

• What makes something feel unfair?

Understanding the System

Focus: State the unspoken…how this actually works

• YAB (Youth Action Board) → your voice
  (Where insight, experience, and ideas come from)

• YSS (Youth Shelter Services) → local implementation
  (Where programs meet real people — where youth actually experience services)

• CoC (Continuum of Care) → system organization
  (Where structure, coordination, and decisions are held)

• YHDP (Youth Homeless Demonstration Project) → strategy + funding for change
  (Where new ideas are tested, funded, and scaled)

Why Youth + Provider Partnership Matters

Focus: Make the purpose real

• What happens when systems are built without youth?

• What happens when youth have ideas but no access?

Youth + Provider Alignment

Focus: Build trust and shared intention

• Youth: Why would you show up to something like this?

• Providers: What do you hope this becomes?

What Would Make This Worth Coming Back To?

• What would make this worth your time?

• What would make you come back?

• What would make this feel different from other spaces?

Equipment Policy  Reality Test YAB Tech Policy

Focus: Co-create something usable

• Where would this not work?

• What feels unrealistic?

• What feels fair/unfair?

• What are we missing?

Structure Areas:

• Access

• Responsibility

• Check-in/out

• Tone (support vs. punishment)

Outcome:

• Policy grounded in real experience

Decision + Next Steps

Focus: Lock in what we’re actually moving forward with

• What are we moving forward with right now?

• What needs to be adjusted before finalizing?

• What are we carrying into the next meeting?

Closing Reflection

Focus: Ownership + future vision

• One word: What do you want this YAB to become?

Breaking the Cycle

This training explores how socioeconomic structures shape individual experiences and opportunities. Participants will examine how generational poverty develops, the systemic barriers that perpetuate economic inequality, and strategies for understanding and supporting individuals navigating complex class dynamics. The session will challenge participants to recognize how personal attitudes about class impact service delivery and develop more empathetic, nuanced approaches to working with diverse populations. 

Authentic Youth Collaboration

CYC brings an experiential training for youth providers focused on improving youth engagement 

Participants explore choice, safety, system structure, and motivation through facilitated activities, empathy mapping, and youth journey mapping. The workshop reinforces Youth Program Quality best practices and supports program improvement by helping participants design environments where young people can engage, plan, and move toward stability. 

Iowa Homeless Coalition - Advocacy Training with Eide Walton

This training is being hosted by the Iowa Homeless Coalition and is provided as a benefit of membership. Please see below to add this event to your calendar!

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

https://meet.goto.com/242501301

You can also dial in using your phone.

Access Code:

242-501-301

United States:

+1 (312) 757-3121

Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:

https://meet.goto.com/install

ACES 360: Presented by Healing Iowa

This interactive 4-hour training will introduce participants to the ways trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences impact brain, biology, behavior, worldview, and self-concept with a specific focus on adolescent development and youth experiencing homelessness.  We will discuss how secondary traumatic stress may impact providers and learn about and practice trauma-informed skills and strategies that promote youth and provider healing and wellbeing. 

February 11th, 10 am - 2 pm. Iowa City Senior Center.