Who are "Youth Providers"?
“Youth Providers” are agencies who embody the privatization philosophy of state government. These agencies contract with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to provide essential services to at-risk youth. When this privatization occurs, the cost for services decrease while successful outcomes increase. This is because services are delivered by professionals committed to evidence-based practices and modalities; they are already the experts and are willing to share their services with the most vulnerable of Utah’s youth all along the continuum of care.
The Youth Services Continuum of Care
Services along the continuum are available for treating:
Substance Dependency
Dual Diagnosis
Mental Health
Behavioral Health
Problematic Sexual Behavior (NOJOS)
DSPD
Adoption & Permanency
Outpatient & Mentoring
Foster & Proctor Care
Treatment Foster Care
IRTS & Wrap Services
Residential Treatment
Secure Care
A united voice for Utah's Youth
The mission of the YPA is to (1) represent the interest of the members in regard to policy, legislative and contract issues, (2) advocate for youth and a cooperative coordinated system of care for such youth, and (3) actively participate in the political and public policy arena in order to meet the above stated objectives.
The Youth Providers Association Executive Team
Mariah Hurst
Executive Director
Devin Jensen
YPA Past President (2024-2025)
Denise Kimber
YPA President (2024-2026)
Troy Shaw
Residential Chair (2023-2024)
Kirsten Walker
YPA Treasurer (2022-2023)
Stephanie Grover
Family Based Care Chair
Lisa Peterson
Secretary (2022-2023)
*Aside from the Executive Director, all members of the Executive Committee are volunteers, either elected or appointed.
We strengthen our work through a united effort.
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Supporting Youth Providers
We provide a confidential forum for members to voice their concerns, provide feedback, and request support. Through effective collaboration, up-to-date networking tools and solutions-based conversations, the YPA helps providers remove the roadblocks preventing the best possible care.
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Legislative Lobbying
By being a part of the conversations before, during, and after the introduction of new legislation, the YPA is able to preserve as much freedom for providers, secure needed funding for quality services, and create common-sense solutions to problems that plague the human services system.
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Resources
Trainings, CEU's, workgroups, conferences, lunch-n-learns, online tools, historical data, legislative talking points, or good old-fashioned research when we don't have an answer; all of the above are resources the YPA offers it's members.