Who We Are

Youth MOVE Massachusetts is youth and young adult-driven, as well as peer-led, from the lived experience of mental health within the Youth Coordinator role, to Young Adult Peer Specialist role. We offer our youth access to leadership skills and training opportunities within our programming, including panel moderation, training facilitation, opportunities to educate providers and other youth-serving entities, as well as statewide and national policy advocacy opportunities. We support an incredibly diverse group of youth and young adults aged 13-35 with diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to youth with lived experience in mental health/behavioral healthcare, who may also experience concerns within the following categories: foster care and adoption, court and probation involvement, medical diagnoses with mental health, co-occurring disorders, LQBTQ+ challenges, homelessness, trauma, school-based issues,  displacement due to domestic violence and homelessness, poverty, and concerns around immigration status. Many of the youth we support do not have sufficient familial or community connections, and our current referrals come from the Department of Mental Health, Department of Youth Services, Department of Children and Families, DESE,  community medical and clinical/therapeutic providers, and, on a walk-in and word-of-mouth basis, from parents and peers.

 

Mission & Vision:

Youth MOVE MA is a youth-led organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of young people and supporting them in taking charge of their mental health.

Youth MOVE MA exists to:

  • Elevate the voices of youth with lived experience in mental health by:
    • Equipping young people with the skills they need to share their voice,
    • Equipping adults to listen and partner with young people authentically, and
    • Advocating in systems that affect or serve youth;
  • Connect young people and families to quality mental health resources;
  • Create opportunities for young people to contribute to systemic change;
  • Welcome and honor all young people regardless of their background, culture, experience, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability;
  • Educate various stakeholders about mental health with a spotlight on youth and their experience;
  • Provide support and non-judgement to young people who face mental health conditions; and
  • Work to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues

 

Commitment To Affirming Safe Spaces Statement:

We intentionally create safe, fair, and equal, and affirming environments for all youth, so that no one feels left out or unaccepted for simply being who they are. No matter how you identify, you are welcome here.