2024 was a transformative year for the Forum for Youth Investment. In partnership with people like you, we worked to strengthen programs and systems that support young people nationwide. Here’s a look at the blogs and publications that resonated most with our community this year.

Top 5 Blogs of 2024

These blogs sparked the most conversations and garnered the most clicks this year.

1. How to Apply Practices That Support Positive Youth Development

Discover actionable strategies for integrating positive youth development practices into everyday programs.

2. Three Policy Solutions to Increase Positive Youth Workforce Outcomes

Explore policy recommendations that help create better pathways to workforce success for young people.

3. Three Strategies to Support Youth Impacted by the Justice System

Learn strategies for providing effective support for youth navigating the justice system.

4. Self-Care for Youth Workers at the SEL Training of Facilitators

A spotlight on self-care as a core component of our Social and Emotional Learning Training of Facilitators retreat.

5. Minding the Gap: Cross-System Collaboration to Help Smooth Youth Transitions Between Systems

Insights into bridging gaps between systems to support youth in key transition periods.

Missed one of these? Catch up on all our blogs here.

Top 5 Publications

Essential resources and research that informed and inspired the field this year.

1. SEL PQA: An Overview of Items & Scales

A comprehensive guide to understanding and applying the Social and Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment (SEL PQA).

2. Creating Equitable Ecosystems of Belonging and Opportunity for Youth: An Action Guide for Cross-System and Sector Leaders and Practitioners

Practical steps and strategies to foster equity and opportunity across systems and sectors.

3. Preparing Youth to Thrive: Promising Practices for Social and Emotional Learning

Highlights effective practices for advancing social and emotional learning in youth programs.

4. 2024 Federal Policy Agenda

Key recommendations for Congress and the Administration to improve systems for youth ages 5 to 24.

5. The Youth Program Quality Improvement (YPQI) Approach: Implications for Policy and Practice

An exploration of the YPQI approach and its potential impact on youth programs nationwide.

Explore all of our publications here.

What’s Next in 2025

Our Commit to Quality campaign continues into early 2025! Explore resources to stay engaged:

• Download the Social Media Kit for Program Leaders: Help spread the word and grow the momentum.
• Catch Up on Articles to Date: Revisit insights from the campaign to date.
• Read Our Latest Blog Post: Why Measuring Quality in Youth Programs Matters.

Thank you for being a vital part of our work this year. Here’s to another year of making a difference for young people.