Five states have been chosen for the Building Ecosystems Statewide for Thriving (BEST) Youth Initiative. This exciting three-year initiative aims to improve opportunities and outcomes for youth ages 5-24 through collaborative, cross-system partnerships.

The heart of a positive youth development approach is to ensure that young people are safe and supported to learn and to lead. Yet, genuine youth leadership in youth-serving systems and organizations is not nearly as common as it needs to be for youth-serving fields to realize their potential. One recent bright spot, highlighting the process and the power of supporting youth leadership was the recent study, From Access to Equity: Making Out-of-School Time Spaces Meaningful for Teens From Marginalized Communities, supported by The Wallace Foundation.

The Federal House Budget Committee's 10-year budget blueprint, aimed at saving $4.6 trillion, is reshaping federal spending priorities. As a result, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which represents the largest investment for out-of-school youth (16-24) and low-income in-school youth facing barriers to employment (14-21), could be eliminated.

With bipartisan support, WIOA reauthorization is on the horizon, and the Forum is at the forefront, advocating for increased investment and innovative reforms in youth workforce development programs. Learn more about these critical developments and their potential impact on young people.