MAKING OUR VOICE HEARD - Advocating for Youth and Families
Become a Y Advocate!
Believing that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, deserves to be healthy, confident, connected and secure, the Y is a powerful ally and advocate for our communities.
With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y collaborates with national and community-based leaders and policymakers to increase the resources and support that empower individuals, families and communities to learn, grow and thrive.
As an advocate of the Y, YOU can help:
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Influence policies and initiatives that help youth develop healthy behaviors, values and life skills
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Prevent and combat chronic disease
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Build trust and understanding among community groups and decision makers
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Positively impact societal issues of importance to the nation and your community
Advocate in support of a movement working every day to build healthier communities.
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The Y has been listening and responding to our communities' most critical and social needs for nearly 170 years. Let your voice be heard and counted by reaching out to your elected officials.
Advocacy in Action
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2025 Oregon legislative priorities:
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HB2315, Directs the Department of State Police to release sex offender information for level two sex offenders to certain entities on a website maintained by the department.
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HB2287, Requires the Department of Early Learning and Care to study child care.
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SB896, Establishes the After-Schoool Learning and Enrichment Grant
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SB 602, Establishes the Nonprofit Organization Advisory Council with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.
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SB5514, Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Department of Early Learning and Care for certain biennial expenses.
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Testified and provided amendment language on Oregon SB 50 regarding Central Background Registry (2021)
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Testimonial on Oergon HB3073 regarding Early Learning (Passed) (2021)
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Testified on Oreogon SB513 Civics Education Act (Passed) (2021)
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Advocacy and Testimonial for the passage of the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act, Senate Bill 606, in the Oregon Legislature. It was one of the most ambitious pieces of legislation that Oregon’s nonprofit sector has ever pursued. (Passed) (2023)
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Advocacy with the Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee requesting funding for CDC's National Center on Injury Prevention and Control to enhance its drowning prevention activities supporting funding for the CDC to begin to scale drowning prevention programs, like the Y’s Safety Around Water program, and advance other needed national and state strategies. (Annually)
Testified on Oregon SB 531 to appropriate moneys from General Fund to Department of Education for summer and after-school programs. (2023)
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Championed legislation for Oregon HB 4082 to provide $30 million in state funding for summer learning and to create a workgroup to develop recommendations for sustainable long-term funding for summer learning in the future. (Passed) (2024) Alliance Director Marisa Fink was appointed to this workgroup and was on the planning team for the Summer and Afterschool Learning Summit on August 15, 2024.
The Oregon Delegation met with Senator Jeff Merkley at the Capitol during YMCA National Advocacy Days in Washington, DC in March 2026.
The Oregon Delegation meeting with Rep. Val Hoyle during YMCA National Advocacy Days in Washington, DC in March 2026.
2026 Oregon National Youth Advocates:
Alan Covarrubias Dayton High School Delegation
Aarna Shah Beaverton YMCA Delegation