V.O.I.C.E.S. was built upon the premise that nothing should go on within the program without the vision, oversight and implementation of foster youth. Early on, the youth who founded V.O.I.C.E.S. insisted that every youth who seeks support at the center must be able to determine their own route to independence.

These core values appear throughout every policy, service and decision implemented at V.O.I.C.E.S. Some examples include:

• Youth staff are involved in making all major decisions of the center
• Youth staff are always present in the front of the center to greet new arrivals, visiting agency leaders or members of the press
• All public presentations on behalf of V.O.I.C.E.S. are made by participating youth
• Peer to peer recruitment is a primary means of outreach and expanding participation
• Youth leaders host trainings for adults working in the foster care system to help them understand the needs of foster youth and the best way to interact with them

By participating in the success of the center, foster youth gain skills, provide critical guidance and demonstrate their ability to affect change within their own lives and the lives of their peers. New programs are continuously developed, implemented and reviewed in a three-step collaborative process between youth and adult leaders:

STEP ONE: Youth leaders and adult staff from V.O.I.C.E.S. and partner agencies identify a significant unmet need and design a program that can address the need.

STEP TWO: Youth and adults work side by side to implement programs, interacting with youth who seek services, providing resources and support and maintaining program policies and criteria.

STEP THREE: Youth are active members and participants in every program committee and V.O.I.C.E.S. staff meeting. They alert the V.O.I.C.E.S. staff and community to program areas or strategies that are off the mark, and take initiative to advocate on behalf of V.O.I.C.E.S. programs that require additional support locally, regionally or at the state.