Jay Culkin has a BA in Sociology and an MA in Social & Public Policy and is currently the Youth Training Coordinator for Families Together in New York State. He is a person with lived experience as an autistic person in the mental health system in youth and adulthood. He was the first of a pilot project at SCO Family of Services to have seasoned YPAs mentoring newer YPAs. Jay has spent most of his time as a YPA advocating for transgender youth. Jay is passionate about literacy, writes poetry, and previously tutored migrants. He lives on Long Island with his wife and pet bunny, Onion.