The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) was formed to develop, improve and strengthen the voice of Transition Age Youth (TAY) in local and state-level policy. CAYEN influences policy by engaging our all TAY Board, Adult Advisory Committee and other people from across the state that care about mental health for youth and young adults. With input from these important voices we advocate, eng
age in policy discussions, and participate in state level committees to ensure that the youth voice and youth needs are included in all policy decisions around mental health services for TAY. Our TAY Board holds monthly phone calls, several in-person meetings, and an annual retreat to discuss relevant policy topics and projects as they relate to mental health for youth and young adults. Our Board Members are also actively involved in their local communities, through working in mental health agencies, engaging in their county stakeholder process, and chairing TAY mental health policy groups. Our staff travels the state to engage in local conversations about how counties are engaging TAY in policy and program decisions, meet the people developing new and exciting ideas, and to share promising practices. As an organization we hope to promote cross-county, cross-agency, and inter-generational learning with the goal of working together to create the best policies, programs, and practices for TAY across the state.
