Tennessee Youth Advisory Council [TYAC]

1. Youth Engagement:
Youth in care need to understand their rights and options, and their voice must be an essential part of any decisions that are made.

2. Permanency:
Youth deserve a quick, timely and permanent placement in a safe and loving home. Whenever safe and possible, youth should be placed with available family and other established relationships.

3. Siblings
Youth should be placed with siblings whenever possible. If this is not an option, a high value must be placed on sibling contact and communication.

4. Housing:
Youth exiting the foster care system need safe, stable and affordable housing.

5. Mentoring:
Youth in care need to have a permanent, meaningful relationship with a trusted, caring adult.

6. Education and employment:
Youth in foster care need the resources and opportunities to attain their educational goals, both during their time in care and beyond. In addition, youth need to be given the skills and training that are needed to attain meaningful employment.

7. Health:
Youth in care and those exiting custody need proper medical care, including appropriate mental health services. An emphasis should be placed on therapy as opposed to medication.

8. Caseworkers:
Youth should be connected to professional, well-trained and committed caseworkers that strive for the best interest of each individual youth.

9. Foster parent recruitment:
Youth need loving, quality foster homes with well-trained and supported foster parents. Specifically, foster homes for Tennessee’s teenagers in foster care are desperately needed.

10. Independent Living:
Support systems such as DCS, foster parents, private providers, faith organizations and mentors need to provide youth with skills and resources needed to live independently as adults.