The goal of the Youth Court Alliance is to re-engage truant students in school and divert these students and their families from entering the Magisterial District Court for truancy hearings. Currently, Youth Court Alliance is in York City School District. Red Lion Area School District and Northeastern School District. Student volunteers go through months of training to serve as lawyers, judges, bailiffs and most importantly, as jurors who will provide dispositions aimed at reconnecting the truant youth to their school. Dispositions include jury duty, community service, research papers, and tutoring.
York County Youth Court Alliance is a program of United Way of York County in partnership with the York County Truancy Prevention Initiative and York County Office of Children, Youth, and Families. Download the Youth Court Alliance brochure (English) (Spanish).
Youth Court Alliance Scholarships
Applications for Spring 2022 due by December 10!
Congratulations to Youth Court Alliance volunteers Isha Patel and Nichelle Sykes, who were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship provided by United Way of York County in 2019.
Youth Court Alliance wins international award
Congratulations to York County Youth Court Alliance, which has received the Program of the Year Award from the International Association of Truancy & Dropout Prevention (IATDP)!
The IATDP Program of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding, emerging, or best practice program that meets the four criteria of innovation, across system, replication, and response to mission.
View the full press release here.
United Way of York County hosted its 2017 Campaign Victory Celebration with over 350 guests at Wyndham Garden York. A highlight of the evening was a spoken word performance by Youth Court Alliance President, Shaniece Wilson (pictured left). Shaniece has served as a mentor for the Youth Court Alliance over the past four years and has been so inspired by her time with the program that she crafted a custom poem specifically for United Way of York County. Many in the audience were quite moved by her words, and we are proud to share them. CLICK HERE to view Shaniece's poem in its entirety.
Watch the videos below to see how YOUR donations are changing the lives of our inner city youth.
Youth Court Alliance Students Tackle Community Issues


For more information about Youth Court Alliance, contact Elizabeth Richard, Senior Director of Education Initiatives, at 717.843.0957, ext. 823, or richarde@unitedway-york.org.
Youth Court Alliance wins international award
Congratulations to York County Youth Court Alliance, which has received the Program of the Year Award from the International Association of Truancy & Dropout Prevention (IATDP)!
The IATDP Program of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding, emerging, or best practice program that meets the four criteria of innovation, across system, replication, and response to mission.
View the full press release here.