HISTORY OF YIPA

• Formed in 1978
• Incorporated in 1984
• 501(c) (3) nonprofit

For a time line of our history please read below. Of course, not everything that has ever happened with YIPA is listed here, but we think it will provide you with enough information to get a good sense of its progression through the years. 

Key Events in YIPA's History:

1976    

• Minnesota’s State Legislature approves passage of the Youth Intervention Program (YIP).  It establishes as a State fiscal priority the support of youth intervention programs to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system.

1978

• The 25 organizations that initially received State YIP funding establish the Minnesota Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA).  YIPA’s mission is “to promote effective and efficient early intervention services for youth”.

1980

• YIPA coordinates and provides it’s first statewide conference for early intervention youth service professionals at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN.

1984

• YIPA is incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) with 22 charter organizational members.

1985

• YIPA began holding quarterly membership meetings for the Association’s members.

1987

• J. Scott Beaty is hired as the Association’s first Executive Director and YIPA begins to strategically advocate for the Youth Intervention Program at the State Capitol.

2000

• YIPA launches its website, www.mnyipa.org.
• YIPA produces and makes available to members and the public an award winning (first place winner of the National Council on Family Relations Media Award) shoplifting prevention video, “Stolen Moments”.
• YIPA develops a resource guide (“Is Your Child Stealing”) for parents in making decisions about children suspected of, or apprehended for, shoplifting and petty theft.

2001

• YIPA coordinates the first “Youth Intervention Program Day at the Capitol”.
• A shoplifting intervention program manual is developed and made available to the membership and general public.

2002

• YIPA establishes the Friends of Youth Leadership Award to recognize individuals and organizations from around Minnesota who have promoted he concept of early intervention services to youth.

2003

• YIPA successfully lobbies to hold budget reductions for the State Youth Intervention Program funding to a 27% budget reduction while funding for many other youth programs were cut more drastically or completely eliminated.

2004

• In response to youth service professionals’ requests, YIPA sponsors a four-day summer training institute at the University of St. Thomas. The Institute was designed to integrate research, theory and innovative practices and provide participants with the necessary constructs to apply the teachings in their respective settings.
• YIPA begins to offer training and professional development opportunities for youth service professionals throughout Minnesota.
• YIPA launches a PR campaign to educate communities about the need for youth intervention programs and services. 

2005

• The St. Paul Pioneer Press runs its editorial supporting an increase of funds for youth intervention programs in the State’s biennium budget.

2006

• Spearheaded the formation of the Youth Policy Alliance which is a group of other statewide youth service associations/collaborations that will work toward the development of a public policy platform for youth services.
• Began offering parent educational evening programs throughout Minnesota.
• YIPA is now offering professional development training to youth service professionals throughout the State of MN.

2007

• Released a Social Return on Investment (SROI) research study conducted by the University of Minnesota and Wilder Research on the value youth intervention has for our communities.
• Coordinated the first Youth Policy Alliance "Youth Day at the Capitol" with over 500 youth and over 100 adults attending the day long event.

2008

• In celebration of YIPA's 30 year anniversary, at our Annual Meeting in 2008, the following Governor's Proclamation was released.
• Coordinated the first ever Youth Policy Alliance Legislative Breakfast.
• Released second YIPA Member Monograph.

2009

• Held public roll-out of YIPA’s KidsChange Initiative and web site.
• Coordinated the second Youth Policy Alliance "Youth Day at the Capitol".
• Obtained it's first "Promise Fellow" employee.
• Researched and published a collection of "best practices on early intervention youth services" for the YIPA membership.

2010

• Completed a new three-year Strategic Plan that will drive the Association activities through 2013.
• Began planning and forming YIPA's public policy goals and objectives for the 2011 Legislative Session.

2011

• Advocated for the Youth Intervention Program at the MN Legislature with the goal of "no reductions to funding" for the 2012 - 2013 biennium.
• Launched a new "interactive" web site.  
• Developed a Public Relations Plan to increase the public's awareness of Youth Intervention and YIPA.