National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP)

Join the #NYAPFAMILY by learning more about our current open positions where you can help make a tremendous impact on the lives of others. We are hiring passionate individuals. Apply today! Visit nyap.org/careers

Team NYAP, as we celebrate National Social Work Month, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication, compassion, and hard work. Every day, you make a profound difference in the lives of the children, youth, and families we serve by offering hope, stability, and support to those who need it most. This year’s theme is “Compassion + Action,” it goes without saying that we truly embody this at NYAP. Join our amazing team! Visit nyap.org/careers

"The transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, which operated between the fifteenth and late nineteenth centuries, involved the horrific trafficking of millions of women, men and children, mostly from West Africa to the Americas." Read more: https://lnkd.in/gVJN7Vs3 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gfYXkNMa

NYAP Recognized in the TOP 100 of America’s Best Midsize Employers 2025 by Forbes "We’re proud to announce that National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) is included in this year’s renowned ranking of America’s Best Employers 2025 by Forbes, a well-known global media company focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle and noted for its lists and rankings of individuals, companies, and other notable figures..." Read more: https://lnkd.in/g6dWRfAg

"Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners collaborate to lead Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). The annual campaign highlights how people with and without disabilities come together to form strong communities. NACDD’s 2025 theme, We’re Here All Year, emphasizing that community, accessibility, and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities should be recognized and championed every day—not just in March. " Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gzCSk9r5 Join our team: nyap.org/careers

NYAP was founded in 1978 by Mubarak Awad, a peace activist and visionary who held profound respect and admiration for his mother, sisters, teachers, and the women who cared for him in the orphanage where he was raised. Due to his life circumstances, he learned early on about the strength, courage, and resilience of women, even in the face of war, famine, and physical and emotional devastation. As NYAP grew, Mubarak prioritized hiring women for key positions. He recognized a pronounced tendency in women to communicate, collaborate, cooperate, and nurture one another more effectively—skills essential for forging positive relationships with the children, youth, and families served by the organization. One of the women Mubarak hired and mentored was Marvena Twigg, our current and second CEO. He saw in her the qualities that still guide and define her leadership today, which underpin our organization's commitment to Caring for People, Connecting Communities, and Promoting Peace. Marvena's dedication to empowering women and acknowledging their influence is reflected in various aspects of our organization, including our demographic profile. As of January 30 this year, 81% of NYAP's 3,045 employees identify as female, with 15 out of our 16 executive directors being women. Since our inception, strong female leadership has also characterized our board of directors, which currently includes eight women and four men. While Women's History Month provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate the incredible women who strengthen our communities every day, at NYAP, we recognize, appreciate, and value the contributions of women throughout the year. We are grateful for everything they do and their unwavering dedication to the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. As we observe Women's History Month throughout March, let us remember that each of us has the chance to build on the past and create a stronger, more equitable society where women and men unite to help everyone thrive. Our children, grandchildren, and communities are counting on us.

Happy International Women's Day from NYAP! Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women everywhere. At National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), we are proud to honor the women who inspire, lead, and make a difference every day. As we reflect on their contributions, we also commit to supporting and empowering the women and girls we serve, helping them reach their full potential. Together, we can create a more just and equal world for all. Join our team: nyap.org/careers Help empower others by becoming a foster parent: nyap.org/fostercare

"Social workers care about people. That is why so many people enter social work each year, making it one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. However, social workers go through years of education and training so they can help individuals, families, communities and our society reach their full potential. That is why the theme for Social Work Month 2025 is Social Work: Compassion + Action." Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gZbUQ8SN Join our team! nyap.org/careers

Become a NYAP foster parent! Request an info call: https://lnkd.in/gB5isB7r Email: [email protected] Learn more: nyap.org/fostercare

We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner. His dedication to the families of Houston, Texas changed the city for the better. We are grateful for the time he took to meet with our team to discuss our mission, shared values of family advocacy, and never-ending commitment to those we serve. His legacy of service will not be forgotten.