Resources
NCFY's list of links will help you navigate the wealth of youth-related
information on the Internet. Please note that the list is not exhaustive
and that the content of sites listed here does not necessarily represent
the official position, policies, or views of NCFY, the Family and
Youth Services Bureau, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
NCFY has grouped the links by topic, so you can easily locate the
information you need to help young people and families. To find
sites of interest to you, choose one of the categories below.
ABSTINENCE
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4Parents.gov
A guide for parents on talking to their adolescents about healthy
choices, abstinence, sex, and relationships. |
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Abstinence
Clearinghouse
Clearinghouse and membership organization that promotes sexual
abstinence until marriage. |
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Abstinence and Marriage Education Partnership Teaches the benefits of abstinence until marriage and healthy relationship skills by providing public and private schools with curricula and organizing assembly presentations, teacher training and parent workshops, and youth group retreats. |
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Best Friends Foundation Promotes a school-based character-building program, based on an abstinence-only philosophy, for girls in grades 6 through 12. |
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The Medical Institute for Sexual Health Nonprofit scientific and educational organization that identifies, evaluates, and communicates scientific data about abstinence and sexual health. |
ADOLESCENT
HEALTH
ADOLESCENT
PREGNANCY
AFTERSCHOOL
AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
CHILD
AND YOUTH SAFETY
CHILDREN
OF PRISONERS
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Amachi
Partnership of community- and faith-based organizations providing
mentoring to children of incarcerated parents. |
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Center for Children
of Incarcerated Parents
Produces documentation on and develops model services for children
of criminal offenders and their families. |
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Family and
Corrections Network
Membership organization of agencies and individuals that serve families of prisoners. The network also houses the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated, which collects and disseminates information, provides training and technical assistance, and increases awareness of issues faced by families separated by incarceration. |
COMMUNITY
SERVICE
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AmeriCorps
Coordinates intensive community service opportunities at community-
and faith-based organizations and in low-income communities.
A program of the National Corporation for Community Service. |
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Corporation
for National and Community Service
Provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds
to engage in service that addresses the Nation’s educational,
public safety, environmental, and other human needs; offers
extensive online resources on volunteering and community service. |
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Idealist Kids
and Teens Site
A project of the nonprofit group Action Without Boarders, this
site introduces children and youth to volunteering and the nonprofit
world. |
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Learn
and Serve America
Supports service learning across the United States. A program
of the National Corporation for Community Service. |
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National
Service-Learning Clearinghouse
Provides timely information and relevant resources to support
service learning programs, practitioners, and researchers. |
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Youth Service America
Trains youth launching innovative service organizations and
sponsors National Youth Service Day. |
EDUCATION
FAMILY VIOLENCE
FOSTER CARE
AND FOSTER YOUTH
JUVENILE JUSTICE
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National
Criminal Justice Reference Service (Juvenile Justice Section)
Links to publications, events, and Web sites related to juvenile
justice and juvenile crime. Topics include drug and alcohol
use, juvenile recidivism, gangs, and school safety. |
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National
Juvenile Justice Center
Research on topics related to juvenile justice. |
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National Youth
Gang Center
Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Assists State and
local jurisdictions in collecting, analyzing, and exchanging
information on gangs. |
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Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to
prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization.
A component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department
of Justice. |
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National
Youth Court Center
Serves as a central point of contact for youth court programs
across the Nation. Managed by the American Probation and Parole
Association. (Youth or teen courts are alternatives to the traditional
juvenile justice system; first-time juvenile offenders are tried,
judged, and represented by their peers.) |
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Youth Crime Watch
of America
Helps students develop youth-led programs that aim to reduce
crime and support young people. |
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTORING
MODEL
PROGRAM GUIDES
NATIONAL
YOUTH PROGRAMS
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Boys
& Girls Clubs of America
Programs and services that promote and enhance the development
of boys and girls. |
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Boy Scouts
of America
Educational program for boys and young adults to build character,
train in the responsibilities of participatory citizenship,
and develop personal fitness. |
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Camp Fire Boys
and Girls
Provides youth with developmental opportunities and improves
the societal conditions that affect youth. |
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Girls Incorporated
Research-based educational programs that encourage girls to
take risks and master physical, intellectual, and emotional
challenges. |
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Girl Scouts
of the U.S.A.
Provides girls with opportunities to engage in activities that
develop their potential while allowing them to interact with
peers in a supportive, all-girl setting. |
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National
4-H Council
Experiential programs and activities for young people across
the country. |
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YMCA of the USA
Nationwide community service organization for families, youth,
and communities. |
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YWCA
Social, health, and economic programs for women and girls. |
PARENTING
POSITIVE
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND RESEARCH
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America’s
Promise
Brings together communities, individuals, companies and organizations
from all sectors to improve the odds for children and youth. |
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American Youth
Policy Forum
Educates policymakers on youth issues such as education, training,
transition to employment, and national and community service.
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Forum
for Youth Investment
Research, education, and training to make sure that all young
people are ready for college, school, and life by age 21. |
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Helping
America’s Youth
Nationwide effort, initiated by President George W. Bush and
led by First Lady Laura Bush, to benefit children and teenagers
by encouraging action in three key areas: family, school, and
community. Web site includes a step-by-step guide to building
strong supports for youth. |
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Institute
for Applied Research in Youth Development
Conducts research, conferences, and outreach to promote Positive
Youth Development. |
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National Conference of State Legislatures
Provides policymakers with research, technical assistance, and opportunities to exchange ideas on the most pressing State issues. |
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National League of Cities
As part of its agenda to strengthen cities, advocates on behalf of youth and children and provides publications and technical assistance on youth issues. |
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Public/Private Ventures
Works to improve the effectiveness of social policies, programs,
and community initiatives, especially as they affect youth and
young adults. |
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Search
Institute
Promotes research and collaboration around the idea that young
people need “developmental assets,” positive experiences
and personal qualities that help them grow up healthy, caring,
and responsible. |
PROFESSIONAL
ASSOCIATIONS AND NETWORKS
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Alliance
for Children and Families
International nonprofit association representing more than 450
child- and family-serving organizations. |
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Child Welfare League
of America
Membership association of nearly 1,000 public and private agencies
that provide a wide range of services to children and families.
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National
Children's Coalition
Resource and referral center for information on issues and activities
related to children and youth; also serves as a membership organization
for child and youth professionals, advocates, and organizations.
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National Network
for Youth
Educates the public, promotes youth-adult partnerships, and
strengthens community-based organizations that serve youth. |
RESEARCH CENTERS
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Center
for Adolescent Studies
Research on social issues relevant to youth. |
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Center
for the Future of Children
The applied research, policy, evaluation, and grant-making unit
of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. |
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Center
for Youth Development and Policy Research
Located at the Academy for Educational Development. |
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Chapin Hall
Center for Children
Research to improve the health and well-being of children and
youth; located at the University of Chicago. |
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Child Trends
Researches children, youth, and family issues, including teenage
pregnancy and childbearing, the effects of welfare and poverty
on children, and other issues related to parenting, family structure,
and family dynamics. |
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Children, Youth
and Families Education and Research Network
Provides information on educational outreach programs, online
publications, and research on children, youth, and families
from universities in all 50 States. |
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Federal Interagency
Forum on Child and Family Statistics
Federal effort to coordinate the collection and reporting of
data on child and family issues. |
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Girl
Scout Research Institute
Center for research and public policy information on the healthy
development of girls. |
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The
Harvard Family Research Project
Researches family support programs and policies, disseminates
research findings, and provides technical assistance to practitioners,
policymakers, and educators. |
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National Academies
Board on Children, Youth, and Families
Convenes experts from the behavioral, social, and health sciences
to address policy-relevant issues related to the health and
development of children, youth, and families. |
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Research
Network on Transitions to Adulthood
Examines the changing nature of early adulthood and the policies,
programs, and institutions that support young people as they
move into adulthood; located at the University of Pennsylvania. |
RUNAWAY
AND HOMELESS YOUTH
SCHOOL SAFETY
TRAINING
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TRANSITIONAL
AND INDEPENDENT LIVING
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Casey
Life Skills
Offers a free online life skills assessment tool as well as
a guide that helps youth workers design a curriculum tailored
to their transitional living program and their youth population. |
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Daniel Memorial
Institute
Produces of life skills curricula and assessment tools for foster
youth and other at-risk young people. |
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National Independent
Living Association
Provides training, technical assistance, and support to independent
living programs. |
TRIBAL YOUTH
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
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Career
Voyages
Information on high-growth, high-demand occupations. A collaboration
between the U.S. Department of
Labor and the U.S. Department
of Education. |
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Jobs for the Future
Nonprofit organization working to improve education and job
opportunities for disadvantaged youth and adults. |
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The National Youth
Employment Coalition
National network of youth employment and youth development organizations
dedicated to helping youth succeed in becoming lifelong learners,
productive workers, and self-sufficient citizens; runs PEPNet,
the Promising and Effective Practices Network, a system for
enhancing the quality of employment and education programs for
young people ages 12 to 25. |
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Sar Levitan
Center for Social Policy Studies
Research and policy center dedicated to improving the educational
and employment prospects for disconnected youth; based at Johns
Hopkins University’s Institute for Policy Studies. |
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YouthBuild
USA
National network of programs that train youth to build low-income
housing while helping them to acquire their GEDs. |
YOUTH
INVOLVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
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The
Freechild Project
Advocates for and supports youth-led social change; Web site
includes the Youth Media Info Center, which lists youth media
organizations, youth media publishers, and youth media resources. |
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Global Youth
Action Network
Facilitates youth participation and intergenerational partnership
in global decisionmaking, supports collaboration among youth
organizations, and provides tools, resources, and recognition
for positive youth action. |
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The
Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development
Promotes community and youth development and increases youth
involvement. |
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National Youth
Leadership Council
Promotes service learning and youth leadership. |
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SADD (Students
Against Destructive Decisions)
Peer leadership organization dedicated to preventing destructive
decisions, particularly underage drinking, drug use, impaired
driving, teen violence, and teen depression and suicide. |
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SoundOut
Promotes meaningful student involvement in school decisionmaking. |
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TakingITGlobal
Online community for young people interested in making a difference
in their communities and the world. |
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What Kids
Can Do
Publicizes the voices and views of adolescents. |
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Youth on
Board
Prepares youth to be leaders and decision makers in their communities
and strengthens relationships between youth and adults. |
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Youth Venture
Helps young people start youth-led organizations. |
YOUTH MEDIA
YOUTH
WITH DISABILITIES
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DisabilityInfo.gov
An online resource for Americans with disabilities. Managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in partnership with 20 other Federal agencies. |
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National
Center for Youth with Disabilities
A project of the University of Minnesota's Division of General
Pediatrics and Adolescent Health; information and resource center
focusing on adolescents with chronic illnesses and disabilities. |
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National Council
on Disabilities
Independent federal agency that makes recommendations to the
President and Congress on issues that affect people with disabilities
and their families. |
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National Dissemination
Center for Children With Disabilities
Information on topics related to children and youth with disabilities,
including the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, the
No Child Left Behind Act, and effective educational practices. |
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PACER Center
Parent advocacy group working on behalf of children and young
adults with disabilities and their families. |
YOUTH-RELATED
NEWS AND INFORMATION
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Connect
for Kids
News on child and youth issues, programs, and policies. |
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National Youth
Development Information Center
Source of news and information for youth workers with interest
in any and all of the following areas: funding, programming,
research, policy, job and training opportunities. |
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Youth Today
Independent, monthly newspaper for professionals in the youth
service field. |
This page contains links to sites that are not within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) domain. ACF cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by these links. Links to non-ACF Web sites do not constitute endorsements by ACF or any of its employees of the sponsors of the sites or the information or products presented on the sites. In addition, the privacy protection provided on the ACF domain (see ACF's Privacy Policy) may not be available at the external link. |