Membership

Become A YATA Member

The network of providers offering young adult residential transitional living schools and programs, therapeutic outdoor and experiential programs, primary care and extended care is expanding at a rapid pace. Our YATA members recognize the value and benefit of mutual collaboration and collegiality. We are able to serve more young adults and their families with quality care by working together to address young adult issues regarding academic challenges, neurodiversity, behavioral health and substance use disorders, life skills and more.

YATA remains committed to our founding principles:

• To promote young adult specific residential (and supportive living) transitional schools and programs.
• To support issues and practices of common interests to young adult schools and programs.
• To enhance the quality of care for young adults and their families.
• To provide a forum for collaboration on issues of mutual concern regarding young adult issues operational issues, education, advocacy and other aspects related to providing young adult transitional services.

YATA Member Directory

Although we don't provide program referrals, YATA is a reputable and trusted source of qualified young adult service providers. All members in good standing are listed on our membership page with a logo hyperlink back to your website and the option of adding the YATA logo to your website.  (Add CTA link back to members page)

YATA Member Benefits

Annual Conference

• Member discount on conference registration
• Member only enrollment period for conference (ability to register before conference sells out to general public)
• Member only priority period to sign up for conference sponsorships (i.e., swag items, etc.)
• Members own a roundtable at conference- identify topic and choose facilitator

Quarterly Zoom Meetings

• Participate in relevant sessions and breakout rooms in virtual quarterly meetings

Member Directory

• Listed on YATA website with hyperlink direct to the member's program website
• Option to post YATA logo to member program website
• Access to YATA Job listings on newsletter or website

Membership Options

To read and understand more about the different levels of membership, membership criteria and the benefits of becoming a YATA member to determine which option is right for you or your organization, click on the links at the bottom of the page.

ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS – Two Levels:

Organization “Full” Membership (Programs only):
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Population Served

• The program’s core population served must be emerging young adults, typically ages 18 to early 30s.
• The majority of clients are in the developmental transition from adolescence to adulthood, including shifts toward social, emotional, financial, and physical independence.

Clinical Services

Member programs provide access to behavioral health services that may include

• Clinical services at one or more of the following standardized levels of care:
  
  • Residential Treatment
  • Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
  • Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
  • Outpatient (individual and group therapy)

Environment of Care (EOC)
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Full Member programs must operate a supportive living environment that:

• Includes physical spaces where clients live, gather, and maintain community with peers and staff beyond therapeutic sessions.
• Supports a cohort model or structured community environment to foster connection and relational development.
• Therapeutic services should be integrated into the transitional living milieu.
• Non-clinical programming must be intentionally designed to support well-being, personal growth, and adaptive functioning.
• Virtual-only programs are not eligible.

Accreditation (Required by 2027 by renewal date)

• Programs must be nationally accredited by a recognized behavioral health accredited body such as The Joint Commission (JCAHO), CARF, or AEE.
• Accreditation must be appropriate to the level(s) of care provided.
• Programs not yet accredited must show active pursuit of accreditation to maintain provisional status.

Program Tenure

• Full Membership: Minimum of 3 years of continuous operation.
  
• Provisional Membership: Available to programs in operation for 1 to 3 years that meet all other criteria and are actively pursuing accreditation.
  

Alignment with YATA Values

Member programs must:

• Be devoted to the mental health, behavioral health, and healthy developmental transition of young adults.
• Clearly state your focus is  on young adult development (ages 18–30) in their curriculum, website, and public materials.
• Promote transparency, collaboration, and best practices.

Organization “Provisional” Membership:

• In operation for a minimum of one year
• Actively working toward full membership

State Licensure/Certification and Nationally Recognized Accreditation

YATA requires proof of State Licensure/Certification based on level of care provided (RTC, PHP/IOP, Sober/Supportive Living) and/or accreditation from a nationally recognized accrediting body. Examples of approved accreditation - Accreditation Canada, AEE, DNV GL, TFA, NIPSA, The Joint Commission, CARF, and COA. Please contact info@yata.net with questions regarding other accrediting bodies.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP:

These professionals support the ethical standards as outlined by YATA, as well as share the mission of cooperative and collaborative relationships.

• Professional members may be mental health professionals, educational consultants, direct care staff, admissions staff, and educators.
• Ancillary organizations that support and work alongside YATA programs and don't have a defined environment of care (outpatient models, virtual models, coaching programs, vendors, therapeutic consulting firms, etc.

YATA as an organization is not an accrediting body and is not responsible for the viability or actions of a member program or professional.