CATCH applicants (and grantees) are encouraged to incorporate authentic family and youth voice and perspectives as part of the project activities. Review the following resources and organizations to assist with engaging with families and youth.

On this page:

Resources and Tips

Tips for Successful Family Partnerships During the Health Care Experience from the FamilY Partnerships Network (FPN), established in 2014 as an advisory group to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Board of Directors (the “Y” is capitalized to represent youth and young adults). 

Engaging Families in Care and Practice Transformation -- from the AAP Screening, Technical Assistance and Resource (STAR Center)

Family-centered care occurs at two levels 1) during patient and family encounters and 2) in office systems and community partnerships which is improved by partnering with family advisors to create change.  

Engaging Parents and Youth with Lived Experience - Strengthening Collaborative Policy and Practice Initiatives for Families with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders 
Technical Assistance Brief from the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, the Children’s Bureau, and the Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration

Fillable Companion Guide: Establishing and Sustaining Youth Advisory Groups
from the National Center for Adolescent & Young Adult Health & Well-Being and Youth Move National

This companion guide is a fillable, section-by-section tool for how to create or sustain an advisory group with youth. Using the 5 W’s (Why, What, Who, When and Where), each section contains helpful prompts and considerations around fundamental concepts like function, funding, and feedback. This guide and your responses can be saved on your device or printed, depending on your needs.  The last page includes additional resources.

See Also:  Presentation slides  and FAQ from the Establishing (and Sustaining!) Youth Advisory Groups Roundtable hosted by the National Center for Adolescent & Young Adult Health & Well-Being and Youth Move National

Family and Youth Partner Organizations

Family Organizations

Youth Focused Organizations

Youth MOVE National has a state chapter network.

  • Executive Director: Arc Telos Saint Amour (they/them) 
  • Assistant Director, Programs and Projects: Te Jay McGrath 

Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH)
Their original and primary location is in Wisconsin, and they have been working to expand to other states.

  • Director of Youth Engagement: Erica Koepsel 

Youth Power Project, which is a youth-founded and youth-led organization consisting primarily of college students across the US, though they may not have representation in every state.

  • Founder and Executive Director: Saanvi Arora 

Organizations specific to Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Other

Last Updated

10/30/2025

Source

American Academy of Pediatrcs