1. What YAAB Tennessee Is — and Why Your Partnership Matters

Before picking up the phone or filling out a form, it helps to understand what YAAB Tennessee actually does — because the clearest partnerships start with the clearest expectations. YAAB is a peer-led advocacy and advisory network, not a direct-service hotline. Understanding that distinction will help you frame your inquiry in a way that leads to a productive collaboration fast.

A Youth-Led Network With Real Policy Influence

YAAB Tennessee is not a traditional service agency. It is a statewide network of young adults ages 17 to 25 who have personally experienced homelessness or housing instability. Members advise local Continuum of Care (CoC) boards, testify before state legislators, and co-design the programs that serve their peers. When a case manager or service provider partners with YAAB, they are not just accessing a referral pipeline — they are tapping into a body of lived expertise that no training manual can replicate.

Across Tennessee’s seven CoC regions — Memphis/Shelby County, Nashville/Davidson County, Knoxville/Knox County, Chattanooga/Hamilton County, Jackson/West Tennessee, Upper Cumberland, and Northeast Tennessee — YAAB chapters work alongside housing authorities, nonprofits, schools, and health systems to make sure transition-age youth have a seat at the table where decisions get made.

Why Service Providers Reach Out to YAAB

Providers contact YAAB for many reasons. Some want to co-facilitate focus groups with youth who have lived experience. Others need a trusted peer voice to help design a new rapid-rehousing program or review intake forms that might feel intimidating to a young person who has been through the system. Still others reach out to invite YAAB members to sit on advisory committees or to co-present at community events. Whatever your reason, YAAB welcomes the conversation — because meaningful partnership between providers and youth is exactly how better systems get built.

• Program design and feedback sessions
• Community needs assessments
• CoC committee and board participation
• Training and professional development for staff
• Peer-to-peer outreach and resource navigation

2. The Fastest Way to Reach YAAB: the Statewide Contact Form

For most case managers and service providers, the statewide contact form is the right starting point — it is fast, it routes automatically to the correct region, and it creates a written record of your inquiry that YAAB staff can reference. Here is everything you need to know to use it effectively.

What the Contact Form Is For

The statewide contact form at yaabtn.org/contact-yaab/ is the single most reliable first step for any case manager or service provider who wants to connect with YAAB Tennessee. The form routes your message to the appropriate regional coordinator based on your county or CoC region, so you don’t have to guess which chapter to contact first. It is monitored regularly and is the preferred channel for formal partnership inquiries, program collaboration requests, and media or speaking invitations.

When you submit the form, be specific. Include your organization’s name, the CoC region you serve, what you are hoping to accomplish, and any relevant timeline. A message that says “I want to partner with YAAB” is much harder to act on than one that says “I’m a case manager in Shelby County working on a rapid-rehousing pilot launching in March and I’d like two YAAB members to review our intake process before we go live.”

Tips for Writing an Effective Inquiry

YAAB members are young adults who balance advocacy with their own education, employment, and housing stability. Respect their time by making your ask clear and concrete from the start.

• State your organization and role in the first sentence.
• Name the specific CoC region you operate in (e.g., TN-500 Memphis, TN-506 Nashville).
• Describe the ask: focus group, advisory role, training, referral partnership, etc.
• Give a timeline so YAAB can assess capacity.
• Note any compensation or stipend you are offering for members’ time — YAAB values providers who recognize that youth expertise deserves fair compensation.

Expect an initial response within 5 to 10 business days. Complex partnership requests may take longer as they involve coordination with regional chapter leads.

3. Connecting With Your Regional YAAB Chapter Directly

YAAB’s statewide reach is organized through seven regional chapters — one for each Continuum of Care region in Tennessee. Knowing which chapter serves your county means you can build a direct relationship with the young adults and coordinators who understand your local housing landscape firsthand.

Tennessee's Seven CoC Regions and Their YAAB Chapters

Tennessee’s Continuum of Care system is divided into seven regions, and YAAB has a chapter embedded in each one. If you already know which region you serve, going directly to the regional chapter page can save time. Each chapter page lists the region’s focus areas, current projects, and how to get involved.

• TN-500 (Memphis/Shelby County): yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/tn-500/
• TN-501 (Nashville/Davidson County): yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/tn-501/
• TN-502 (Knoxville/Knox County): yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/tn-502/
• TN-503 (Chattanooga/Hamilton County): yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/tn-503/
• TN-504 (Jackson/West TN): yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/tn-504/
• TN-506 (Upper Cumberland): yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/tn-506/
• TN-507 (Northeast TN): yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/tn-507/
• TN-509: yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/tn-509/

What Each Regional Chapter Can Help With

Regional chapters are the operational heart of YAAB. They hold regular meetings, recruit new members, and maintain relationships with local CoC leads, housing authorities, and service providers. When you connect at the regional level, you are more likely to get introductions to the specific young adults whose lived experience matches your program’s focus area.

Regional chapters can help you:

• Identify youth peer navigators who can co-facilitate outreach
• Get feedback on program materials before launch
• Understand the specific barriers youth face in your county
• Connect with CoC committees that include YAAB representation
• Invite YAAB members to staff trainings on trauma-informed, youth-centered approaches

If you are unsure which chapter covers your county, the statewide contact form will route you correctly — or browse the full list of local YAABs on the site.

4. Understanding the Continuum of Care Structure YAAB Works Within

To partner effectively with YAAB, it helps to understand the policy architecture it operates within. The Continuum of Care framework shapes how YAAB engages with providers, what kinds of partnerships are possible, and why youth participation in CoC governance is not just good ethics — it is federal policy.

What the CoC System Means for Service Providers

The Continuum of Care (CoC) is a federally recognized planning body in each region that coordinates housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. HUD requires each CoC to include people with lived experience of homelessness in its governance — and YAAB is how Tennessee’s CoCs fulfill that requirement for transition-age youth (TAY), defined as young adults ages 17 to 25.

For service providers, this means YAAB is not an optional add-on to CoC work — it is a formal partner. If your organization receives CoC funding or participates in the Coordinated Entry system, you are already operating in the same ecosystem as YAAB. Building a relationship with your regional chapter is not just good practice; in many cases it is aligned with HUD’s expectations for meaningful youth participation in CoC planning.

How YAAB Fits Into Coordinated Entry

Coordinated Entry (CE) is the front door to the homeless services system in each CoC region. Young adults ages 17 to 25 often face unique barriers when navigating CE — distrust of systems, lack of ID documents, fear of being separated from chosen family, and unfamiliarity with the process. YAAB members help CoC partners understand these barriers from the inside and advocate for CE processes that are genuinely accessible to youth.

If your agency administers or participates in Coordinated Entry and you want to improve youth access, a conversation with your regional YAAB chapter is one of the highest-leverage steps you can take. YAAB members can review your CE intake scripts, identify language that feels stigmatizing, and help train frontline staff on youth-centered approaches — all things that improve outcomes without requiring a budget overhaul.

5. What to Expect After You Make Contact

Knowing what happens after you hit “send” helps you plan your outreach strategically. YAAB is a youth-led organization, which means its capacity, timelines, and decision-making look different from a traditional nonprofit. Here is a realistic picture of the post-contact process so you can set your own expectations accordingly.

The Typical Partnership Timeline

After you submit an inquiry — whether through the statewide contact form or directly to a regional chapter — here is a realistic picture of what happens next:

• Days 1–10: Initial acknowledgment from YAAB staff or a regional coordinator. They may ask clarifying questions about your organization, the ask, and your timeline.
• Days 10–21: If the partnership is a good fit, YAAB will connect you with the relevant regional chapter lead or a specific member whose experience aligns with your project.
• Weeks 3–6: An introductory call or meeting to scope the collaboration, discuss compensation for youth participants, and set expectations on both sides.
• Ongoing: Regular check-ins, co-facilitation of sessions, or participation in advisory roles as agreed.

Timelines vary based on chapter capacity, the complexity of the ask, and the academic or employment schedules of YAAB members. Building in flexibility and lead time — ideally 4 to 6 weeks before you need youth input — leads to the best outcomes.

Compensating Youth for Their Expertise

One of the most important things a service provider can do to build a respectful partnership with YAAB is to compensate youth members for their time and expertise. Asking young adults who are navigating their own housing instability to donate hours of advisory work is not equitable — and it signals that the organization values lived experience in principle but not in practice.

Compensation can take many forms: hourly stipends, gift cards, transportation reimbursement, or formal consulting agreements. Even modest stipends — $25 to $50 per session — make participation possible for youth who cannot afford to miss a work shift. When you reach out to YAAB, proactively stating that you have a budget for youth compensation will significantly increase the likelihood of a productive partnership and demonstrates that your organization is serious about centering youth voice.

6. Types of Partnerships YAAB Tennessee Supports

YAAB supports a wide range of partnership types — from one-time focus groups to ongoing advisory roles to co-advocacy on state legislation. Understanding the landscape of what is possible helps you frame your inquiry in a way that matches YAAB’s actual capacity and strengths.

Program Design and Quality Improvement

One of the most impactful ways service providers partner with YAAB is by inviting youth members into the design and review of programs before they launch. This might mean sharing a draft intake form and asking YAAB members to flag questions that feel invasive or confusing. It might mean running a focus group with five to eight youth to test a new case management model. Or it might mean asking a YAAB member to shadow your intake process for a day and debrief with your team afterward.

Programs designed with youth input from the start are more likely to be trusted and used by the young adults they are meant to serve. YAAB members bring a perspective that no amount of professional training can substitute — they know what it actually feels like to walk through your door.

Advocacy and Policy Collaboration

YAAB members regularly engage in local and state-level advocacy — testifying at city council meetings, participating in CoC planning sessions, and meeting with legislators in Nashville. Service providers who want to amplify youth voice in policy spaces can partner with YAAB to co-present data, co-author public comments, or support YAAB members in attending advocacy events.

If your organization is working on a policy campaign related to youth homelessness, housing access, or transition-age services, YAAB’s advocacy work may already be aligned with your goals. Reaching out early in a policy cycle — before positions are locked in — gives YAAB members the most meaningful role and produces the strongest outcomes.

Staff Training and Lived-Experience Education

Many service providers invite YAAB members to speak at staff trainings, new employee orientations, or professional development days. Hearing directly from a young adult who has navigated the shelter system, Coordinated Entry, and the foster care-to-homelessness pipeline is more powerful than any slide deck. YAAB members who participate in these sessions should always be compensated at a professional rate — not asked to share trauma for free.

When planning a training session, work with YAAB in advance to co-develop the agenda, agree on what topics are in scope, and give members the option to set boundaries on what they share. The goal is education, not performance of hardship.

7. How YAAB Serves Young Adults Directly — What Providers Should Know

Case managers sometimes contact YAAB expecting a direct-service referral pathway. Understanding the difference between YAAB’s advisory and peer-leadership role and the direct-service system helps you use both more effectively — and helps you give your clients accurate information about what YAAB can offer them.

YAAB Is Not a Direct-Service Hotline

This is one of the most important things for case managers to understand: YAAB is not a crisis line or a direct-service provider. If you have a young adult in front of you right now who needs emergency shelter, food, or mental health support, YAAB is not the right first call. Instead, contact your regional CoC’s Coordinated Entry access point or a local emergency shelter.

That said, YAAB’s statewide resources page links to housing, employment, education, and support services across Tennessee’s regions — and it is a genuinely useful tool for case managers who want a quick overview of what is available for transition-age youth in a given area. Bookmark it and share it with your clients.

Peer Navigation and Resource Connection

While YAAB does not operate a direct-service hotline, YAAB members often serve as informal peer navigators within their communities. A young adult who is connected to a YAAB chapter may be able to help a peer understand what to expect from Coordinated Entry, how to advocate for themselves in a housing meeting, or where to find a GED program that works around a work schedule.

If you are a case manager who wants to connect a client to YAAB’s peer community — not for a formal service, but for peer support and connection — the best path is to encourage the young adult to explore YAAB membership directly. YAAB is always recruiting new members who want to turn their lived experience into advocacy and leadership. Joining is free, and members gain access to training, stipends, and a statewide network of peers.

8. Attending YAAB Events and Public Meetings

Some of the most productive provider-YAAB relationships begin not with a formal inquiry but with a provider showing up to a public event and simply listening. YAAB’s calendar of meetings and advocacy events is open to community partners — and attending is free.

How to Find YAAB Events in Your Region

YAAB chapters hold regular meetings, advocacy trainings, and community events throughout the year. Many of these are open to service providers and CoC partners who want to observe, learn, or participate. The best way to find upcoming events is to check the YAAB events calendar, which lists statewide and regional gatherings.

Attending a YAAB meeting as a guest — not as a presenter or expert, but as a listener — is one of the most effective ways to build genuine trust with youth members. It signals that your organization values youth leadership enough to show up on their turf, on their schedule, and to listen before asking for anything.

Etiquette for Providers Attending Youth-Led Spaces

If you are invited to attend a YAAB meeting or event, a few principles go a long way:

• Listen more than you speak. These are youth-led spaces. Your role as a provider is to learn, not to lead.
• Introduce yourself clearly — your name, organization, and why you are there — without taking up excessive time.
• Do not recruit or pitch services unless explicitly invited to do so by YAAB leadership.
• Follow YAAB’s lead on what is appropriate to share publicly from the meeting.
• Follow up. If you make a commitment in the room — to share a resource, to follow up on a question, to bring back information — do it. Trust is built in the follow-through.

YAAB Tennessee Contact Channels at a Glance

Use this table to match your specific situation to the right contact method and set realistic expectations before you reach out.

9. Comparing Ways to Connect With YAAB Tennessee

Not every inquiry is the same — and not every contact method is equally suited to every situation. The table below summarizes the main ways service providers and case managers can connect with YAAB Tennessee, along with the best use case, expected response time, and what to prepare before reaching out. Use it to pick the right channel for your specific need.

10. Common Mistakes Providers Make When Reaching Out to YAAB

Even well-intentioned providers sometimes approach YAAB in ways that create friction or slow down a potential partnership. Knowing the most common missteps — and how to avoid them — means your first contact is more likely to lead somewhere productive.

Treating YAAB Like a Referral Database

YAAB is a peer-advocacy network, not a client database. One of the most common missteps providers make is contacting YAAB and asking for a list of “at-risk youth” to refer to their program. This framing misunderstands YAAB’s purpose and can feel extractive to youth members. YAAB members are leaders and advisors — not a pool of clients to be recruited.

If you want to reach young adults who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, the right channel is your regional CoC’s Coordinated Entry system. YAAB can help you design a better outreach approach — but it is not itself an outreach pipeline.

Underestimating the Time Investment

Meaningful partnership with YAAB takes time. Providers who reach out expecting a quick turnaround — a focus group scheduled for next week, a youth speaker booked for tomorrow’s training — often find themselves disappointed. YAAB members are young adults managing their own housing, employment, and education alongside their advocacy work. Capacity is real and must be respected.

The providers who build the strongest YAAB partnerships are those who plan ahead, communicate clearly, offer fair compensation, and treat youth members as the professionals they are. If you are in a genuine time crunch, be transparent about it in your initial inquiry — YAAB staff can sometimes help identify members who have more immediate availability.

Using Stigmatizing or Clinical Language

Language matters enormously in youth-centered spaces. Phrases like “at-risk youth,” “homeless kids,” or “these kids” signal to YAAB members that a provider has not done the work to understand youth-centered, non-stigmatizing communication. YAAB uses language like “young adults with lived experience of homelessness” or “transition-age youth” — and expects its partners to do the same.

Before reaching out, take a few minutes to review YAAB’s understanding youth homelessness page. It will give you a grounding in how YAAB frames these issues and help your inquiry land much better.

11. How Young Adults Can Get Involved With YAAB

This guide is primarily written for case managers and service providers — but if you are a young adult reading this and wondering whether YAAB is for you, this section is for you. YAAB is built by and for young adults with lived experience of homelessness. Your perspective is not a liability — it is the whole point.

Who Can Join YAAB Tennessee

If you are a young adult ages 17 to 25 in Tennessee who has experienced homelessness or housing instability — including couch surfing, staying in a shelter, aging out of foster care, or living in an unstable situation — you may be eligible to join YAAB. Membership is free. You do not need a permanent address, a job, or a GED. You need your story and the willingness to use it to make things better for the young adults who come after you.

YAAB members receive leadership training, stipends for their advocacy work, connections to a statewide peer network, and a real seat at the table where housing and service decisions get made. Many members describe YAAB as the first place they felt like their voice actually mattered.

What Membership Looks Like Day to Day

YAAB membership is flexible by design — because YAAB knows that young adults navigating housing instability cannot commit to a rigid schedule. Regional chapters meet regularly (frequency varies by region), and members can participate in person or virtually depending on what is accessible. There are also statewide convenings, advocacy days in Nashville, and training opportunities throughout the year.

Members are not required to share their personal story publicly. Participation can look like attending meetings, reviewing program materials, joining a committee, or simply showing up and learning. Over time, many members take on more visible roles — speaking at events, serving on CoC committees, or helping recruit new members from their own peer networks.

Ready to Reach Out? Your Next Step Starts Here

Whether you are a service provider looking to build a meaningful partnership or a young adult ready to step into leadership, YAAB Tennessee is the right place to start. The network spans all seven CoC regions across Tennessee — from Memphis to Mountain City — and it is built on the belief that the young adults closest to the problem are also closest to the solution. Reach out, show up, and let’s build something better together.

For Case Managers and Service Providers

If you are a case manager, CoC partner, or service provider ready to connect with YAAB Tennessee, the clearest next step is to submit an inquiry through the YAAB contact page. Have your organization name, CoC region, and a clear description of your ask ready before you start. The more specific you are, the faster YAAB can connect you with the right regional chapter or staff member.

If you want to learn more about YAAB’s structure and mission before reaching out, the About YAAB page is a great place to start. And if you are looking for resources to share with the young adults you serve, the statewide resources page has housing, employment, education, and support service listings organized by region.

For Young Adults Ready to Join

If you are a young adult ages 17 to 25 in Tennessee with lived experience of homelessness or housing instability and you want to turn that experience into leadership and advocacy, YAAB wants to hear from you. Membership is free, flexible, and built around your schedule. You do not have to have everything figured out — you just have to show up.

Start by visiting yaabtn.org/join/ to learn more about membership and find your regional chapter. YAAB has chapters in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Jackson, the Upper Cumberland, and Northeast Tennessee — so wherever you are in the state, there is a community of peers ready to welcome you in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contact YAAB Tennessee as a case manager or service provider?

The fastest way is to submit an inquiry through the statewide contact form at yaabtn.org/contact-yaab/. Include your organization name, the CoC region you serve, a clear description of your ask, your timeline, and whether you have a budget to compensate youth members for their time. Expect an initial response within 5 to 10 business days.

Is YAAB a direct-service provider or a crisis hotline for youth?

No — YAAB is a peer-led advocacy and advisory network, not a direct-service provider or crisis line. If a young adult needs emergency shelter or immediate support, contact your regional CoC's Coordinated Entry access point. YAAB's resources page (yaabtn.org/resources/) links to service listings by region that can help.

Which YAAB chapter covers my county in Tennessee?

Tennessee has seven CoC regions, each with a YAAB chapter: TN-500 (Memphis/Shelby), TN-501 (Nashville/Davidson), TN-502 (Knoxville/Knox), TN-503 (Chattanooga/Hamilton), TN-504 (Jackson/West TN), TN-506 (Upper Cumberland), and TN-507 (Northeast TN). Visit yaabtn.org/local-yaabs/ to find your region, or use the statewide contact form and it will route your message automatically.

Should I pay YAAB members for their time when they participate in my program?

Yes — YAAB strongly encourages service providers to compensate youth members for their expertise. Even modest stipends of $25 to $50 per session make participation possible for young adults who cannot afford to miss work. Proactively mentioning your compensation budget in your initial inquiry significantly improves the likelihood of a productive partnership.

Can a young adult with lived experience of homelessness join YAAB Tennessee?

Yes. YAAB membership is open to young adults ages 17 to 25 in Tennessee who have experienced homelessness or housing instability, including couch surfing, shelter stays, aging out of foster care, or other unstable living situations. Membership is free and flexible. Visit yaabtn.org/join/ to get started.

What language should I use when reaching out to YAAB about youth homelessness?

Use person-first, non-stigmatizing language such as 'young adults with lived experience of homelessness' or 'transition-age youth' rather than 'at-risk youth' or 'homeless kids.' Reviewing YAAB's understanding youth homelessness page at yaabtn.org/understanding-youth-homelessness/ before reaching out will help your inquiry land well.