This page serves as a resource for all 2024 UYP attendees. Find information on Siena’s Campus, schedules, and emergency numbers below.

UYP 2024 Handbook

Photo Submission.

General UYP Survey
Class Survey
Continuing Education Form
Siena College Guest Information | Emergency Response Guid

UYP Registration opens at 9:30AM on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Snyder Hall.

View schedule by opening each toggle below. 

Day 1 | Saturday July 13, 2024

10:00-12:00pm | Registration & Lunch Snyder Hall

11:30-12:30pm | Lunch Massry Commons

12:30-2:00pm | Orientation Snyder Hall 

2:00-2:30pm | Break

2:45-4:00pm | Networking Social Snyder Hall

4:00–5:15pm | Electives                                                                       

Improv 101

Professor: Zack Kilmer                                                             

Description: This workshop will go over the basics of theatre improvisation. Participants will engage in fun, interactive exercises designed to enhance their creativity, spontaneity, and communication skills through improvisational activities.                                           

Skills and Strategies for Effective Advocacy                       

 Professor: Crystal Collins                                                 

 Description: The goal of this course is to teach the skills and strategies necessary for effective advocacy. Participants will learn how to communicate their message clearly, navigate political systems, and build support for their causes.                                                          

Thriving Voices! Youth Advocacy and Survivorship               

Professor: Yaniel Wynter                                                                   

 Description: Youth advocacy and survivorship are crucial for ensuring support for everyone. This training empowers YPAs with knowledge, skills, and confidence to advocate effectively while navigating survivorship dynamics. Participants will explore advocacy and survivorship intersections, develop leadership skills, and learn strategies for supporting survivors.                                                                                                                                                                 

5:30–6:30pm Dinner Massry Commons                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

6:45-8:00pm Evening Activities Snyder Hall

-Karaoke

-Dungeons & Dragons

Day 2 | Sunday, July 14, 2024

,,8:00–9:30am | Breakfast Massry 167

10:00–11:15am | Keynote: Angel Gray Snyder Hall 

Description: Angel Gray is the Program and Policy Manager at Westchester Children’s Association since 2022. With over a decade of experience in family support and youth services, she has worked in settings ranging from psychiatric hospitals to community mental health programs. Angel holds degrees in Psychology (BA, Spelman College), Organizational Leadership (MA, Mercy College) and social work (MSW, New York University). Her Diverse background provides a comprehensive understanding of challenges facing children and families in Westchester County and NYS. She approaches her work with knowledge and empathy , guided by her Life’s motto: “To lead, one must first learn to serve.” In her current role, Angel is dedicated to driving positive change for the community’s youth through advocacy and policy work.

11:30–12:45pm | Classes

Peer Track: Independent Living, Mark Holley, NY Connects Coordinator, Access To Independence of Cortland County Inc

  • This workshop introduces the principles of Independent Living. It offers practical tips for self-advocacy and accessing community resources to support autonomy and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.

Recovery Track: Mental Health Wellness Through Superheroes, Simcha Weinstein, DEI & Community Engagement Coordinator, FTNYS

  • This workshop uses superhero metaphors to teach resilience and strength. Participants will engage in activities that build self-confidence and coping skills, learning how to harness their inner superhero to overcome challenges and support their communities.

Systems Track: Survey Design for Systems Advocacy Research, Melanie Hecker, Statewide Youth Advocacy Specialist, NYS OMH

  • Surveys are essential for systems advocacy. This class teaches how to create and share surveys, draw conclusions, and communicate results to decision-makers. Through interactive activities, participants will identify situations for survey use, write effective questions, choose target groups, interpret results, and use findings to support advocacy efforts.

1:00–2:00pm Lunch Norm – Lonnstrom Dining Hall

2:15–3:30pm Classes Siena Hall

Peer Track: Tips, Tricks, & Tools for Systems Advocacy Research Melanie Hecker, Statewide Youth Advocacy Specialist, NYS OMH

  • Research is an essential first step for any good systems advocacy campaign. This class will explore how to find resources on a systems advocacy topic, evaluate the reliability of sources, and use the information to build a strong advocacy campaign.

Recovery Track: Healing Through Trauma, Meghann Simpson, Youth Training Coordinator, FTNYS

  • Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can significantly impact one’s development. Meghann will share her experiences with trauma, its effects on her mental health, and her journey to healing and recovery. Her story emphasizes that healing is possible, regardless of the severity of trauma.     

Systems Track: Systems Advocacy 101, Zachary Kilmer, Youth Public Policy Coordinator; Brad Hansen, Public Policy Director, FTNYS

  • The FTNYS Public Policy Team will go over the basics of government and civics, and how we can influence systems in order to improve the lives of New York youth!

3:45–5:15pm Student Fair & Activities Outside Norm

5:30–6:30pm Dinner Massry Commons

7:00-8:00pm Evening Activities Snyder Hall

  • Movies
  • Cap Decorating
    Day 3 | Monday, July 15, 2024

    8:00–9:30am | Breakfast Massry Commons

    9:45–11:00am Classes

     

    Peer Track: Youth Power in Family Mental Health: How Young Leaders Can Create Cultures of Wellness to Support their Family and Friends.           

    Shantalee Martinez, Project Coordinator, Family Mental Health Programming, Mental Health Association in New York State

    • Families, whether biological or chosen, influence many aspects of our lives, including our mental health. This session will explore how young leaders can create cultures of wellness within their families to support mental health recovery and overall wellness.

    Recovery Track: Revolutionize Your Life: Embracing Rest as a Powerful Tool for Change in Your Advocacy and Everyday Life.

    Michelle Lyles, YGB Senior Youth Advocate, You Gotta Believe; Nia Imani Potter, YGB Advocate

    • In today’s fast-paced world, carving out space for rest is increasingly challenging. This workshop will delve into the concept of rest, its importance, and how prioritizing rest can foster growth and innovation in advocacy.

    Systems Track: Community Collaboration Michelle Varvaro, Community & Provider Relations, CHHUNY

    • The youth and families we work with often have multiple needs. As a staff, it is not your job to know all the answers but where to find the best solutions. Having a better understanding of NY statewide resources and ways to access information is key to your work!

    11:15–11:45am | Leaders Lunch Refresher/Prep Massyr Commons

    11:45–12:15pm | Getting Dressed for Leaders Lunch

    12:15–1:30pm | Leaders Lunch – Massry Commons

    1:30 pm–2:30pm | Graduation Massry Commons

    3:00–4:00pm | Check Out Snyder Lobby

    Meet the 2024 UYP Professors

    Addtional Resources

    Systems Advocacy

     “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

    Systems Advocacy is an effort to change policies, rules or laws which determine how services are provided. These efforts can be directed toward a local, state, national or international agency. The focus can be on changing laws, policy, regulation, and practice. What is targeted depends on the type of problem and who has authority over the problem.

    Systems advocates work constant improvement in governmental systems to ensure human and civil rights, improve the quality of care, services and treatment of people. Systems Advocates work to “Yes,” the friend responds. “But I’ve been in this hole before, make change within organizational, social, community and legal systems for the people who receive services in a system and for the people who they represent.

    In other words, Systems Advocacy is another way of advocating for others, but instead of for one person, it is for a whole group of people. This is the type of advocacy that is done by Youth Power and the Youth Movement every day. We fight and advocate for the rights of young people at every level; county, state, nationally and internationally. We participate in government and provider committees and meetings; here decisions are be ing made about policies, laws, and regulations that affect young people and the way they receive services.

    There are different types of Systems Advocates. There are different movements that focus on different systems issues such as the disability movement, school-to-prison pipeline, and so on,

    What is an advocate?

    An advocate “is someone who pleads in favor of another or promotes a cause. He or she assists people in pursuing their own rights, safety, and well-being. Advocates can work within state or private Institutions, as well as in the community. Advocacy can be conducted through live meetings, telephone or correspondence” (S. Clay, PEOPLE, 1995).

    An advocate is someone who fights for the rights of others. That person tries to make sure that laws, policies and regulations are doing the right thing and not violating people’s civil and human rights. It is also about making sure that service providers listen to what the person affected by services is saying they want.

    Systems Advocates are also called “Change Agents.” Through their work, they make “the powers that be” stand up and take notice of the issues and concerns of the people using services. Their job

    is to listen to their peers or the group of people they are working with and help them to get the support they need or protect their rights.

    How can I be good advocate?

    A good advocate is:

    • Someone who can effectively express themselves and the opinions of a group in a clear and effective manner. 
    • Someone who understands the organization or the issue and uses that knowledge effectively.
    • Someone who knows or learns the rules and regulations.
    • Someone who can make a stand when necessary
    • Some who can get things done
     
    PEER Advocacy

    Peer advocacy is about helping your peers learn to speak up for them-selves and being a support to them. The same skills you learned to speak up for yourself can be used here, except that instead of doing it for yourself, you are doing it for someone else. You are helping your peers to find their voice and advocate for themselves. You are providing support to them and speaking for them when asked to do so, and you are sharing information about things you have learned. The most important thing about peer advocacy is to remember that, even if you may sometimes speak up for your peer, it is their voice and choices that should always be expressed.

    What is a Peer Advocate?

    A peer advocate is someone that helps another person with whom they share similar experiences to navigate the service system. They also help empower a person by sharing information and helping their peer learn how to best speak up for themselves. The important part is that a peer advocate is a “peer” because that person has been through some of the same things and understands the struggles of the person for which they are an advocate. A peer advocate is knowledgeable on the rights and responsibilities young people have in the service systems they engage with.

    What is Peer Support?

    The following peer support definition is slightly modified from “Defining Peer Support” Shery Mead, March 2003, to be more inclusive of all YP members.

    Peer support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful. Peer support is not based on Medical modelsand diagnostic criteria. It is about understanding another’s situation empathically through the sharedexperience. When people find affiliation with others whom they feel are “like” them, they feel aconnection. This connection, or affiliation, is a deep, holistic understanding based on mutual experience where people are able to “be” with each other without the constraints of traditional (expert/patient) relationships. Further, as trust in the relationship builds, both people are able to respectfully challenge each other when they find themselves re-enacting old roles. This allows members of the peer community to try out new behaviors with one another and move beyond previously held self-concepts built on disability, diagnosis, and trauma worldview. The Stone Center refers to this as “mutual empowerment” (Stiver & Miller, 1998).

    Peer support starts with the basic assumption that meaning and perception are created within the context of culture and relationships. Our self-definition, how we understand and interpret our experiences, and how we relate to others is created and developed from the direct and indirect messages we get from others and the messages we get from dominant cultural beliefs and assumptions

    Agencies you Should Know

    Administration for Children’s Services (ACS): NYC Children’s Services is the City’s agency responsible for child welfare, juvenile justice and early care and education services dedicated to protecting, supporting and promoting the well-being of our city’s children, youth and families each and every day. http://www.nyc.gov/html/acs/html/home/home.shtml 

    Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR): Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) offers access to a full range of employment and independent living services that may be needed by persons with disabilities through their lives. This can include transition services, vocational rehab, independent living and business services. ACCES- VR is a part of the New York State Education Department. http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/ 

    Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES): Provides a number of education programs including special education and career/technical programs designed to meet student needs. http://capregboces.org/ 

    Council on Children and Families (CCF): During its 30-year history, the Council on Children and Families (“The Council”) has served as a broker, innovator and change agent among the state’s health, education and human services agencies. The unique value of the Council is its ability to provide a comprehensive, cross- systems perspective critical for the development and implementation of strategies impacting the availability, accessibility and quality of services for children and families. http://ccf.ny.gov/ 

    Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS): The Division of Criminal Justice Services is a multi-function criminal justice support agency with a variety of responsibilities, including collection and analysis of statewide crime data; operation of the DNA databank and criminal fingerprint files; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration of the state’s Sex Offender Registry that allows anyone to research the status of an offender. http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ 

    Department of Health (DOH): The NYS Department of Health protects, improves and promotes the health, productivity and well-being of all New Yorkers. http://www.health.ny.gov/ 

    Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH): The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is a department of the Government of New York City responsible for public health along with issuing birth certificates, dog licenses, and conducting restaurant inspection and enforcement. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml 

    Department of Labor (DOL): To foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. http://www.labor.ny.gov/home/

    Department of Youth and Community Development (NYC DYCD): The Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) was created in 1996 to provide the City of New York with high-quality youth and family programming. Our central task is administering available City, state, and federal funds to effective community-based organizations. DYCD is committed to building and expanding on partnerships that generate innovative and practical programs for youth, their families and communities. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dycd/html/home/home.shtml 

    Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC): The NYSDDPC is a Federally-funded, New York State Agency that operates under the direction of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. For over forty years, we’ve been developing and funding innovative, disability-related projects which improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. http://ddpc.ny.gov/

    Justice Center: The Justice Center was created in legislation known as the “Protection of People with Special Needs Act” to establish the strongest standards and practices in the nation for protecting people with special needs. It serves both as a law enforcement agency and as an advocate for people with special needs. http://www.justicecenter.ny.gov 

    New York State Education Department (NYSED): The state agency that oversees and regulates schools, colleges, and universities. Their mission is to raise the knowledge, skill, and opportunity of all the people in New York. Their vision is to provide leadership for a system that yields the best educated people in the world. The services covered by NYSED include ACESS-VR (see above), Office of P-12 education, and Office of Cultural Education (state museum, state archives, etc.) http://www.nysed.gov/ 

    Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS): The New York State office that oversees addiction recovery and prevention programs for drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions. With more than 1,600 prevention, treatment and recovery programs, OASAS treatment programs assist about 100,000 people on any given day and more than 240,000 individuals every year. http://www.oasas.ny.gov/ 

    Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS): The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York’s public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of our children, families and communities. We will achieve results by setting and enforcing policies, building partnerships, and funding and providing quality services. http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/ 

    Office of Mental Health (OMH): The Office of Mental Health operates psychiatric centers across the State, and also regulates, certifies and oversees more than 4,500 programs, which are operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies. These programs include various inpatient and outpatient programs, emergency, community support, residential and family care programs. http://www.omh.ny.gov/ 

    Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD): The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities is responsible for coordinating services for more than 126,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, and other neurological impairments. It provides services directly and through a network of approximately 700 nonprofit service providing agencies, with about 80 percent of services provided by the private nonprofits and 20 percent provided by state-run services. http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/ 

    Office of Temporary Disability Assistance (OTDA): The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals. OTDA’s functions include: Providing temporary cash assistance; providing assistance in paying for food; providing heating assistance; overseeing New York State’s child support enforcement program; determining certain aspects of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits; supervising homeless housing and services programs; and providing assistance to certain immigrant populations. https://otda.ny.gov/ 

    COMMON ACRONYMS & PHRASES

    ACCES-VR: Adult Career and Continuing Education Services: Vocational Rehabilitation
    ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act: A law that ensures equal rights and accessibility for people with disabilities.

    APA: American Psychiatric Association: The American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the largest psychiatric organization in the world.

    CASAC: Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor: Someone approved to work in addiction recovery

    CASSP: Child and Adolescent Service System Program: A comprehensive mental heal program for children and their families.

    CBO: Community-Based Organization: Nonprofits that operate in a specific local community

    CCSI: Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative: Part of the council on children and families, a comprehensive mental health program for children, youth and families.

    CPS: Child Protective Services: Part of Office of Children and Family Services, this sub-agency investigates child abuse and neglect situations, as well as encouraging people to report child abuse and providing rehabilitation for both families and children.

    CTAC: Community Technical Assistance Center

    DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Considered the bible of the American Psychiatric Association, this book catalogs the various recognized mental disorders and provides criteria for diagnosis.

    DT: Day Treatment: Provides treatment in a non-hospital setting

    EI: Early Intervention: Federally funded program intended to promote screening of children at risk, and securing services and supports at the earliest possible age. FPA: Family Peer Advocate

    HCBS: Home and Community Based Services: Opportunities for people on Medicaid to receive services in a non-institutional setting

    HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: The law that protects confidential medical information.

    ICM: Intensive Case Manager: A worker who helps implementation of care plans for someone with serious mental health needs.

    IEP: Individualized Education Plan: A plan that states a student’s unique educational services. Most students with disabilities have on

    ILC: Independent Living Center: a nonprofit agency supporting people with disabilities to help them live on their own. ILCs are run by people with disabilities, and are not places to live, just places to help you live on your own. ILC’s commonly organize support groups, provide transportation, and help train people in daily living skills.

    JRC: Judge Rotenberg Center: A residential school in Massachusetts known for giving electrical shocks to its students and depriving them of food for punishment. Their practices have been deemed torture by the United Nations.

    MCO: Managed Care Organization: A healthcare provider that deliver Medicaid program health care services, whose goal is to provide appropriate, cost-effect medical treatment.

    MRT: Medicaid Redesign Team: Addresses underlying health care cost and quality issues in New York’s Medicaid program.

    SED: Serious Emotional Disturbance: A youth with a psychiatric disorder that meets one of several criteria, which can include disruption of daily life and uncontrolled emotion.

    SSI: Supplemental Security Income: A program that provides money to people with disabilities who can only work part-time.

    SPOA: Single Point of Access: A program making living in the community easier for adults with serious mental health needs.

    SOC: Systems of Care: The philosophy that the various child-serving systems should communicate with one another and with child-serving resources like schools, community centers. Etc. It also means following certain values like being youth guided, family driven and sensitive to culture.

    TAY: Transition Age Youth: Generally referring to young people between the ages of 14 and 26. The age of transition varies by system.

    TIC: Trauma Informed Care: A treatment approach that takes into account the effects of multiple types of trauma.

    WIOA: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Legislation designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.

    YPA: Youth Peer Advocate: A Youth Peer Advocate is someone 18-30 years old who self-identifies as a person who has first-hand experience with social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges. Youth Peer Advocates must be able to use their lived experience with a disability, mental health challenge , substance use disorder, and experience in New York State systems such as juvenile justice, special education, and/or foster care to assist in supporting young people in their resiliency/recovery and wellness.

    Helpful Websites & Resources

    State & National Youth Voice

    ACT for Youth—Assets Coming Together for Youth—aims to strengthen community partnerships that promote positive youth development and prevent risky and unhealthy behaviors among young people, aged 10 to 19. http://www.actforyouth.net 

    Foster Youth in Action (FYA): Foster Youth in Action is a national organization that organizes a grassroots network of foster youth-led groups through training, leadership opportunities, shared learning and advocacy. With 16 foster youth-driven partners in 17 states, FYA is the only national organization raising up and connecting independent, grassroots groups fighting to secure rights and opportunities that current and former foster youth deserve. www.FosterYouthAction.org 

    Youth M.O.V.E. National: A 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. http://www.youthmovenational.org/ 

    Youth Voices Matter: A youth recovery community organization made up of a collective of diverse youth and young adults in recovery, as well as members and allies from across the state. http://www.youthvoicesmatter.org/ 

    Information & Resources

    The Autistic Self Advocacy Network: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement in the world of autism. Drawing on the principles of the cross-disability community on issues such as inclusive education, community living supports and others, ASAN seeks to organize the community of Autistic adults and youth to have our voices heard in the national conversation about us. http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/ 

    Career Zone NY: a free, virtual career exploration and planning system for young New Yorkers. With a secure account, you can direct your own career journey, based on your interests, values, and goals. Don’t know about a career? Want to understand more about career paths? CareerZone is the advanced, complete platform for young New Yorkers looking for ways to create their own career journey. http://careerzone.ny.gov/ 

    Disability Rights NY (DRNY): protects and advocates for the rights of adults and children with disabilities so that they can freely exercise their own life choices, enforce their rights, and fully participate in their community life. We achieve this goal through advocacy, litigation, coalition- building, public information, and technical support for other advocates, for people with disabilities in New York. http://www.disabilityrightsnewyork.org 

    National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve youth with disabilities. http://www.ncwd-youth.info/ 

    The National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (NCLD/Y) serves as a national youth-led information, training, and resource center. NCLD/Y has a four-pronged focus on working on developing leaders, developing the capacity of centers for independent living to serve those leaders, the capacity of the staff working directly with the leaders, and supporting the cadre of youth with disabilities-related organizations. http://www.ncld-youth.info/