Youth peer advocates
Ongoing Events
& Training
We offer a variety of ongoing technical assistance events and trainings for Youth Peer Advocates and supervisors. Join a learning community led by staff experts and build your “toolbox” of skills to support, educate, and empower youth/young adults.
YPA Technical Assistance Trainings
Dynamic presentations on popular topics to educate and strengthen the peer workforce. Continuing Education hours available!
Location: Zoom
Schedule: occurs monthly on the third Thursday from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Upcoming Dates
September – no meeting
Oct 15, 2026
November 19, 2026
December – no meeting
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcu2tqzstG9BiEnf4lBZFZ6xWcmHSglBT#/registration
Facilitating Youth Groups as a YPA
Thursday, October 15, 2026 @ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Facilitating groups is a powerful way for Youth Peer Advocates to create spaces where young people feel heard, valued, and connected. But how can YPAs create group spaces that remain youth-centered, encourage meaningful participation, and effectively navigate challenges when they arise?
This session explores the fundamentals of youth group facilitation through a youth-guided lens, helping YPAs build the skills and confidence needed to lead engaging, supportive, and inclusive groups. Participants will learn strategies for fostering youth voice and participation, supporting young people with diverse lived experiences, navigating common group challenges, and understanding how groups develop and grow over time.
Presenter: Kaziah Clayton, YPA-C, Youth Workforce Development Coordinator
Download Flyer: https://www.ftnys.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/YPA-TA-TRAINING-OCT-26.pdf-1.pdf
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcu2tqzstG9BiEnf4lBZFZ6xWcmHSglBT#/registration
YPA Lived Experience Cafe
Whether you are new to your role or have been a Youth Peer Advocate for many years, the Lived Experience Cafe is a YPA networking group to share experiences, innovative and effective practices, knowledge and skills, solution to barriers and challenges, and key information supporting your role as Youth Peer Advocates!
Location: Zoom
Schedule: occurs monthly on the fourth Wednesday from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Upcoming Dates
September 23, 2026
October 28, 2026
November 25, 2026
December – no meeting
YPA Supervisor Cafe
Open forum for YPA supervisors to discuss the challenges and successes of supervising youth peer advocates and to support role clarity.
Location: Zoom
Schedule: occurs bi-monthly on the second Tuesday from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Upcoming Dates
October 13, 2026
December 8, 2026
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtdu-sqz4jHdAVGFYqrHPbikNW_vaD-iL7#/registration
Youth Peers Meeting
YPM is a monthly statewide meeting for youth, Youth Peer Advocates, and others in similar peer-based roles (ages 12-30) to connect and have an open discussion to share tools and strategies, advocacy, and workforce development.
Location: Zoom
Schedule: occurs monthly on the second Wednesday from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Upcoming Dates
October 14, 2026
November – no meeting
December 9, 2026
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsd-2uqzgsHda6I9WFL29U-rIJbL2Jh5i9#/registration
Never miss a TA training! Click the video below to view our YouTube Playlist.
