Youth Voice in Action: How the Youth Advisory Board Shapes Compass Care
By Kenosha Collins, Project Manager of Education Innovation
Compass Care is a family-centered, customized intervention that reduces chronic absenteeism for 5th to 12th grade students. Compass Care’s 10-week program uses advocates (with lived experience) who are curious and compassionate, focusing on the specific needs of a student and their family. Whether those are based in aspects of the school system or other barriers at home, the advocates are prepared for circumstances ranging from academic or mental health challenges to concerns for safety to a lack of reliable transportation. Seneca currently partners with schools to address chronic absenteeism through the Compass Care approach in Tennessee, Washington and California.
At Compass Care, we believe that the best way to improve our work is to listen to those who experience it firsthand: our students and families. One of the most powerful ways we do this is through our youth advisory board (YAB), a dedicated group of current and former Compass Care participants who provide invaluable insights into how we can better support students navigating chronic absenteeism.
YAB is a critical part of our commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Twice a year, YAB comes together to review our program, discuss their experiences, and offer feedback on what works, what doesn’t, and where we can grow. Their voices help shape everything from how we engage with families to the types of resources we prioritize.
We also deeply value the perspectives of our Hope Scholars who participate on YAB, current University of California, Berkeley, students who have overcome significant challenges, including experiences in foster care, probation foster care, or being orphaned before the age of 18
Though they have not participated in Compass Care, their journeys offer important insights into the long-term impact of supportive services, resilience, and access to education. Their voices provide unique and critical perspectives on how we can continue to improve our work and ensure that students facing adversity receive the support they need to thrive.
By centering student voices and lived experiences, we ensure that Compass Care remains dynamic, responsive, and truly student-centered. We are grateful for the passion and dedication of our YAB members and Hope Scholars whose contributions make our work stronger and more impactful every day.
