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

IA BoS CoC 2026 Annual Meeting

The Iowa Balance of State CoC 2026 Annual Meeting is focused on strengthening our homeless response system across the state of Iowa.

Topics include:

• system updates and opportunities for increased partner engagement

• meaningful involvement of people with lived experience

• a look at how we are performing statewide

• the launch of our Housing Problem Solving initiative

• progress on our strategic plan,

• and any relevant federal funding updates

CoC Grantees are required to send at least one staff member to attend this meeting!

CoC Funded Projects and partners are encouraged to invite their community partners to attend our annual meeting! Community partners will gain timely insights into the housing and homeless services system, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and leave better equipped to align local efforts to end homelessness across Iowa.

Registration closes May 4, 2026.

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

Healing Iowa: ACES 360 & CYC

Thursday, April 22nd 9 am - 1 pm. Graettinger, IA.

Discovering the Impact of Trauma and Building Strategies Towards Healing

This highly interactive 4-hour training will introduce participants to the ways trauma and adversity impact us, 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.

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

View the Agenda:

Iowa City Youth Action Board (YAB)

Date: 04.16.2026
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Iowa City Eastdale Plaza
1700 S 1st Ave #14, Iowa City, IA 52240

Virtual Option:
Join from computer, tablet, or smartphone:
https://meet.goto.com/357461141

Dial in:
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412
Access Code: 357-461-141

MEETING PURPOSE

• Discuss TA (on-site support)

• Share YAB Technology Policy update

• Discuss UAY + YAB partnership direction

ICE BREAKER

What have you noticed growing lately?

TA ON-SITE DISCUSSION

What support do we need right now?

• What’s working with YAB?

• Where are things getting stuck?

TA Support Options (Areas We Can Focus On):

• YHDP Overview
  What YHDP is, why it exists, and how it supports youth

• Where does my YAB fit in?
  Understanding your role in decision-making and system change

• YAB Integration into YHDP Implementation
  How youth voice connects directly to programs and funding

• YAB Bylaws & Structure
  How the group runs, makes decisions, and share leadership

• Understanding Policies & Procedures
  How to read, review, and shape policies

• YAB Recruitment & Engagement
  Bringing people in and keeping them connected

• Young Adults Take the Lead (Facilitation Focus)
  Building confidence in leading meetings and discussions

• Youth-Centered Systems
  Moving from adult-led to youth-led decision making

YAB TECHNOLOGY POLICY UPDATE

• Recap: Ames → Iowa City → Marshalltown

• Updates: tone, flexibility, real-life application

• Status: Pending CoC Board Approval (May 14th)

Discussion:

• Does this feel usable?

• What would make it easier to follow?

• Any concerns before rollout?

UAY PARTNERSHIP DISCUSSION

• What does it mean to have YAB inside UAY?

• What’s already working (peer mentors, connection, consistency)?

• What could be stronger?

Focus Questions:

• How should YAB and UAY work together?

• What do you want from this partnership?

• What should NOT happen? (boundaries matter)

CLOSE & NEXT STEPS

• What are we doing next?

• Who owns it?

Next Meeting: May 21st

Healing Iowa: ACES 360 & CYC

Thursday, April 9th from 9 am-1 pm in Mason City, Iowa.

Discovering the Impact of Trauma and Building Strategies Towards Healing

This highly interactive 4-hour training will introduce participants to the ways trauma and adversity impact us, 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.

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.