Children and Youth

The Hewlett Foundation explored a range of possible approaches to improving services and outcomes for highly disadvantaged youth, in particular those aged 14 to 24, as part of its Children and Youth Program. As part of that process, the Foundation commissioned a number of papers examining issues related to improving outcomes for these youth. The experts we consulted provided valuable insights into the demographics of young people at risk, the effectiveness of past policies and programs, and the potential for innovation and improvement in the field. Due to changes in available resources, the Foundation did not establish a new youth program. We hope, however, that the research and analysis commissioned to inform our exploratory process may prove useful to those currently working on youth development issues.

The following materials on youth development are available. Click on a link below to view an abstract of the paper and to download the entire document as a PDF file.

• Connected by 25: Improving the Life Chances of the Country's Most Vulnerable Youth (PDF)
• A Portrait of Well-Being in Early Adulthood (PDF)
• Serving High-Risk Youth: Lessons from Research and Programming (PDF)
• Taking Stock: A Review of Youth Employment Policy and Prospects (PDF)
• Improving the Economic and Life Outcomes of At-Risk Youth (PDF)
• Promoting Prevention, Targeting Teens: An Emerging Agenda to Reduce Domestic Violence (PDF)
• Voices for Change: Leadership Development for Communities of Color to Improve Their Policy Impact (PDF)
• Connecting the Disconnected: Policies to Improve Schooling and Employment Outcomes for Disadvantaged Young Men (PDF)
• Native American Youth in Transition: The Path from Adolescence to Adulthood in Two Native American Communities (PDF)
• Foundation Initiatives For Children, Youth and Families: A View of the Landscape

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about how these papers were developed, or to contact the authors directly with questions about their particular subject or viewpoint.