The Youth Advisory Council came up with a yak, aka YAC as they often are referred to, to represent their group. The fur over the eyes and the goofy appearance of the yak made them smile. Due to COVID restrictions, the Child Life Department provided the hands to glue and design the caps for teens for this piece. The YAK will find its home in the Child Life T(w)een Zone when this exhibition is completed. We are better together!

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. ~ Helen Keller

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a group of teens who have been patients or siblings of patients at Children's Hospital Colorado. Our goal is to create a better environment for pediatric patients throughout their time at Children's Colorado. As key stakeholders, we partner with the Child Life Department to share our voices with leaders and help make decisions that impact current and future patients. Stated by one of the members YAC is … “A group of good kids working like a family to do good things for the hospital.”

Our Child Life Department is trained in the use of therapeutic play, recreation and educational techniques; our child life specialists guide children and teens throughout their treatment.