Staff

Offering a premium program to teach at risk teens to advocate for themselves and take control of their futures requires a team approach that values creativity, inclusion, and concrete outcomes.

Betsy Krebs, Esq.– Co-Founder & Executive Director
BKrebs@youthadvocacycenter.org
Collaborating with teens, child welfare professionals, advocates, lawyers, and professionals in the private sector, Betsy has led the development of YAC’s program to help teens succeed through self-advocacy education for over ten years. In 2000 the Open Society Institute, George Soros’ foundation, awarded Betsy an Individual Project Fellowship to write about the impact of foster care on teenagers and the development of alternatives for teens in care. Before starting Youth Advocacy Center, she worked as an attorney representing foster care children. Betsy has authored columns, articles and publications for and about teenagers in foster care and about self-advocacy. Ms. Krebs received her JD from Harvard Law School.

Paul Pitcoff, Esq.– Co-Founder & Director of Education
PPitcoff@youthadvocacycenter.org
Working with teens and a range of professionals at YAC, Paul developed and oversees the implementation of the Getting Beyond the System self-advocacy education model. Paul has thirty years of experience working with young people, as a college professor, filmmaker and attorney. Paul is founding chair of the Department of Communications at Adelphi University, where he held a tenured position for 20 years and produced dozens of award-winning documentary films. Paul’s interest in self-advocacy and teens developed after he graduated from Cardozo Law School and briefly worked as an attorney representing foster care children.

Susan Ross – Program Coordinator
SRoss@youthadvocacycenter.org
Ms. Ross is actively involved in helping organizations around the country understand how to use the Getting Beyond the System® Self-Advocacy Seminar to empower teens to prepare for the transition to adulthood. She has five years experience working with youth. Prior to joining Youth Advocacy Center, Susan worked as an educator at both nonprofit organizations and public schools.

Kendall Franklin - Youth Outreach Coordinator
KFranklin@youthadvocacycenter.org
Mr. Franklin graduated from the GBS Self-Advocacy Seminar in the spring of 2005 and then became an intern at Youth Advocacy Center. Kendall has been a staff member for more than a year and has been an integral part of Youth Advocacy Center’s outreach efforts. His efforts are geared towards helping Youth Advocacy Center reach and benefit even more of America’s youth. Kendall is currently a Senior accounting major at Hunter College and would like to pursue a career in business or working with youth.

Rachel Silagyi – Program Assistant
RSilagyi@youthadvocacycenter.org
Ms. Silagyi brings to Youth Advocacy Center her energy and enthusiasm for helping foster youth, and a background in health and human services. Rachel has previous experience working directly with youth in therapeutic foster care at Child and Family Services in Virginia. She supports Youth Advocacy Center’s program, communications and development work.