Youth Advocacy Begins with Showing Up, Listening, Sharing and Working Together
Shaler Cooper, our CCBS Senior Director of Marketing and Admissions, recently traveled to Washington, DC to represent our school at NATSAP’s 10th Annual Advocacy Day.
This annual event is a powerful opportunity for schools, parents, alumni and program leaders to support legislation prioritizing youth mental health and ethical therapeutic care. It’s a chance for schools to share expertise, insight and data with policymakers who are unfamiliar with the field to:
- Ensure that the challenges and successes of therapeutic programs are understood by decision-makers
- Advocate for resources and regulations that are client-centered
- Allow therapeutic programs to thrive
What is NATSAP?
The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) is a non-profit organization that supports professionals and programs that serve struggling youth and their families.
NATSAP is not a licensing or accrediting body, but it plays a critical role in promoting collaboration, education and best practices across a wide range of therapeutic environments … including residential treatment centers, wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools.
Founded in 1999, NATSAP’s mission is to elevate the standard of care and advocate for the ethical, professional and effective treatment of youth facing emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges. Member programs … including Cherokee Creek Boys School … are united in a commitment to continuous improvement, transparency and quality care.
Why Advocacy Matters
This year, Advocacy Day brought together passionate stakeholders from 21 states across the country, including parents, alumni, staff, board members and other program advocates. Attendees engaged in networking receptions, advocacy training sessions and 82 meetings with offices on Capitol Hill.
The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of therapeutic services and mental health resources for youth and to champion legislation that protects and supports families navigating treatment options. These conversations help ensure policymakers understand the positive impact ethical, well-regulated programs can have on young lives.
One of the key pieces of information that was presented in meetings was the NATSAP Evaluation Report. According to NATSAP’s website:
Download the one-page report summary or the full 48-page report … LINK
“When the world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”
– Malala Yousafzai
Why CCBS Shows Up
At Cherokee Creek Boys School, we are dedicated to quality care on our campus and throughout the industry.
As a NATSAP member program, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical and professional standards. Our school is accredited, our team is highly trained, and our work is grounded in compassion, integrity and a commitment to doing what’s right for each student and family.
By joining this national conversation, we can help support other therapeutic programs in meeting rigorous quality standards, because every family deserves access to trustworthy, specialized and effective support when they need it most.
We’re proud to have had Shaler Cooper represent CCBS in Washington, DC. Her involvement reinforced our voice in shaping the future of youth mental health care … and reminds us all that advocacy begins with showing up, listening, sharing and working together.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
A special thank you to our two alumni families and our current family who joined in our efforts this year.
And a note of appreciation to all of our families that participate / participated in the YOQ Evaluations. Your and your student’s feedback has contributed to this important data! Please continue to respond to requests as you get them.
Please reach out to Shaler if you are interested in participating in future Advocacy Days! LINK