Amber Barcel is the Director of Public Policy at Advocates for Youth. In this role, she leads the organization’s state, federal, and U.S. foreign policy efforts. She helps set the policy direction and serves as one of the organization’s advocacy voices promoting youth reproductive and sexual health rights on Capitol Hill, within the Administration and federal agencies, within state legislatures, at coalition meetings, and with colleague organizations.

Her policy portfolio includes increasing access to confidential, affordable healthcare services with a priority on HIV-related and gender-affirming care, and LGBTQ health, rights, and nondiscrimination policies. Her 13 years of youth experience includes Omaha Girls Rock!, GLSEN Omaha, adoptee mentorship, sex education, AmeriCorps, and teaching English in the U.S. and South Korea.

Prior to joining Advocates, Amber was the Policy Director for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence where she led state and federal legislative and funding advocacy for over 70 domestic violence programs. She has a Master of Social Work with a policy concentration from the University of Washington, Seattle.