YOUTH RIGHTS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint – Restraint and seclusion, outdated crisis management techniques that are commonly used in schools across the nation and beyond, are disproportionately used on disabled and minority children. These interventions are dangerous and can lead to significant trauma and injuries to students, teachers, and staff. Some children have even died as a result of the use of restraint and seclusion. There are far better ways to work with children that avoid the need for crisis management. Our schools should be moving towards neurodevelopmentally informed, trauma-sensitive, biologically respectful, relationship-based ways of understanding, and supporting students.
The Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion – The Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions and Seclusion (APRAIS) was established in 2004 by leading education, research, and advocacy organizations with a common goal: to eliminate the use of dangerous and dehumanizing practices as a means of managing challenging behavior. Led by TASH, APRAIS seeks to end the use of unnecessary and dangerous interventions in schools, treatment programs, and residential facilities.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry — The American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry was formed in 2013 as an affiliated 501(c)(6) organization of AACAP as a way for the child and adolescent psychiatrists to increase their advocacy activities. Activities such as AACAP’s Legislative Conference, federal lobbying, grassroots, AACAP-PAC, and AACAP’s Advocacy and Collaboration Grants are all under the umbrella of the Association.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law – Since 1972, Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has advocated for the civil rights, full inclusion, and equality of adults and children with mental disabilities. We were pivotal in expanding the civil rights movement to include fighting discrimination against, and segregation of, people with mental disabilities. Today, the Bazelon Center accomplishes its goals through a unique combination of litigation, public policy advocacy, coalition building and leadership, public education, media outreach, and technical assistance—a comprehensive approach that ensures we achieve the greatest impact.
Children’s Rights: Protecting kids – Every day, children are harmed by America’s broken child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and healthcare systems. Through relentless strategic advocacy and legal action, we hold governments accountable for keeping kids safe and healthy. Children’s Rights has made a lasting impact, protecting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children and we are poised to help millions more.
Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) – CAFETY’s mission is for empowerment, education, and advocacy. It is a member-driven advocacy organization, led and driven by those with direct experience in residential care and our allies. We promote and secure the human rights of youth in or at risk of residential placement.
The Institutional Child Abuse Prevention and Advocacy Network – is dedicated to authoring and supporting legislation aimed to reform the troubled teen industry and protect youth from institutional child abuse. We advocate for a systemic change in the standards of mental health care and addiction services for youth.
Juvenile in Justice – We work with educational institutions and non-profits to better understand and/or explain the needs, policies, strategies, and resources required to facilitate better outcomes for the 53,000+ children in custody every day.
Lost-n-Found Youth – To end homelessness for all LGBTQ youth by providing them with the skills and support needed to live independently.
Michigan Center for Youth Justice – We work to advance policies and practices that reduce confinement and support trauma-informed, racially equitable, socio-economically and culturally responsive, community-based solutions for Michigan’s justice-involved children, youth and young adults
National Disability Rights Network – NDRN is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP). This includes hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or other treatment centers
National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health – The National Federation, a national family-run organization serves to provide advocacy at the national level for the rights of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs and substance use challenges and their families.
National Network for Youth – The National Network for Youth (NN4Y) is dedicated to preventing and eradicating youth homelessness in America. We work in communities with youth who have experienced homelessness, service providers, and systems to help accelerate the community’s progress in ending homelessness and human trafficking among young people. Together, we envision a future in which all young people have a safe place to call home with endless opportunities to achieve their fullest potential.
National Youth Rights Association – The rights of young people are violated on a daily basis. We help people defend their rights by providing information on the legal status of youth rights based on current laws at the federal, state, and local level and analysis of case law and legal precedent, an action plan for how to respond to youth rights violations, and strategies for reinforcing and expanding youth rights on a variety of issues
Stop Hurting Kids – The Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion (APRAIS) is a coalition of organizations and advocates who dedicate their time and resources to ending restraint and seclusion abuse in U.S. schools. Each day, children are at risk of being injured and traumatized by the imposition of restraint and seclusion in schools across the United States, despite the fact there is no evidence of therapeutic or educational value, and ample evidence of emotional trauma, physical harm, and death.
Survivors of Institutional Abuse – We are a family centered survivor and advocacy support non profit organization. We are Survivors of Institutional Abuse, supporting survivors in advocacy to raise awareness against Institutional Child Abuse for over 10 years.
TASH – TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs – those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect, and institutionalization. TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, and information and resources for parents, families, and self-advocates. The inclusive practices TASH validates through research have been shown to improve outcomes for all people.
We Warned Them – We are a national coalition that consists of survivors of the TTI, activists, advocates, like-minded organizations and allies. We are showing up to hold elected officials accountable for the continued civil rights violations, exploitation and abuse that at-risk youth are forced to endure in under-regulated residential programs.

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