Federal Resources

This set of documents was developed by the National Association of Governors Highway Safety Representatives with financial assistance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The guides focus on the following topics: Coalition Building, Needs Assessment and Strategic Planning, Evaluation, Prevention and Education, Underage Drinking Enforcement, Public Policy Advocacy, Media Relations, Self-Sufficiency, and Resources.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School assists states and communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bicycle to school. The National Center serves as the information clearinghouse for the federal Safe Routes to School program. The organization also provides technical support and resources and coordinates online registration efforts for U.S. Walk to School Day and facilitates worldwide promotion and participation.

This toolkit (PDF, 66 pages) includes tips and resources to help current and former foster youth as they transition to adulthood and pursue college and career opportunities. It provides information on important topics like finding a job, managing money, and securing housing.

This special report on young adults in the United States, ages 18-24, includes data from nationally representative, federally sponsored surveys. Data are summarized under five key themes: education; economic circumstances; family formation; civic, social, and personal behavior; and health and safety. 

This site consolidates disaster assistance information in one place. The secure, user-friendly U.S. Government web portal allows users to apply for assistance online following a presidentially declared disaster and to find additional resources and information about recovering from a disaster.

The National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth recently profiled The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) Funding and Programs List, which outlines which federal departments have programs that help prevent and end homelessness and includes programs specifically designed to assist homeless youth.

This website provides articles, videos, tools, and other resources on bullying prevention.

USA.gov created a free Financial Self Defense kit that provides credit reports, debt calculators, retirement information, tactics for fraud protection, financial tips, and more. Order a free kit to begin safeguarding your financial future. 

The ConnectED Initiative aims to bring America’s students into the digital age by ensuring access to the Internet and other educational technologies by using existing federal funds and partnering with businesses, states, districts, communities, and schools.

“Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships: Year of Action Highlights” (PDF, 18 pages) highlights the partnerships the Administration has formed with faith-based and community organizations that have expanded support and opportunity for Americans.

This fact sheet illustrates the steps that the Obama administration and its federal partners are taking to support foster youth. These efforts include ensuring access to healthy meals, protecting the welfare of Native youth, building financial security, keeping young people out of the justice system, creating paths to employment, supporting educational success, and developing public service and private investment opportunities. 

First Lady Michelle Obama invites school and community leaders to promote the students’ success by hosting a College Signing Day at local high schools. Use the College Signing Day Toolkit (PDF, 22 pages) to plan an event to honor students’ commitments to complete their education beyond high school. 

Let Girls Learn is a new government-wide initiative focused on helping adolescent girls complete their education and pursue their goals. Let Girls Learn will build on the work of the Peace Corps and USAID,  and will utilize partnerships with NGOs, businesses, and foundations, in an effort to promote the education and success of girls worldwide. 

On October 30, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) held its first Young Leaders Dialogue (YLD) Google+ Hangout on Education. The first YLD focused on education, and more than 500 students and professionals RSVP’d and attended watch parties. Small group discussions that focused on the needs of various campuses and communities were also held.

The My Brother’s Keeper Initiative was launched in February 2014 to address the persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color. This 90-day report outlines the initial recommendations developed by the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force and offers a blueprint for action by government, business, nonprofit, philanthropic, faith and community partners.

On February 28, 2014 the White House held its first-ever Student Film Festival, screening 16 official selections that highlight why technology is so important and how it will change the educational experience for students in the future. Visit the event website to learn more about the film festival, check out the winning films, and watch video of the event.

This document outlines how President Obama’s budget for fiscal year 2015 takes steps to support and create opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander families (PDF, 8 pages) in education, employment, health care, and economic growth. 

The White House has launched disasters.data.gov, a public resource to foster collaboration and the continual improvement of disaster-related open data, free tools, and new ways to empower survivors, first responders, and all levels of government with critical information and resources. 

President Obama has unveiled a new proposal that would make two years of community college free for students who attend atleast half-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and make steady progress toward completing their program. 

On December 3, 2014, The White House hosted the Tribal Nations Conference. At this event, leaders from federally recognized Native nations, the President, cabinet officials, and The White Council on Native American Affairs discussed key issues facing tribes. During the event, the Obama administration announced the launch of Generation Indigenous, a comprehensive, culturally appropriate initiative that will focus on removing barriers to success for Native youth.

On December 3, 2014, The White House hosted the Tribal Nations Conference. At this event, leaders from federally recognized Native nations, the President, cabinet officials, and The White Council on Native American Affairs discussed key issues facing tribes. During the event, the Obama administration released the 2014 Native Youth Report (PDF, 38 pages). This report describes the impact of past misguided federal policies on Native children, persistent educational disparities experienced by Native youth, and recommendations for partnerships that have the potential to strengthen ladders of opportunity for young people. 

This new guide, released by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, was developed to support Hispanic students in their efforts to enroll in and afford postsecondary education. Available in English and Spanish, the guide includes recommendations on how to prepare a college application, tips for choosing the right college, and information about financing options, including resources for students granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and non-U.S. citizen students.

This fact sheet discusses the opportunity gap that Hispanic students face in accessing arts education (PDF, 2 pages) and describes federal efforts to ensure Hispanic students have access to a quality education, which includes an arts-rich curriculum. 

On July 23, 2015, First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed 140 college-bound students, all of whom have overcome great odds to go to college, to the White House for the Reach Higher “Beating the Odds” Summit. The summit celebrated these students' accomplishments, while also providing them with tips and resources to better prepare them for when they go to college this fall.

This report (PDF, 36 pages) describes the barriers that disadvantaged youth, particularly young men of color, face related to education, exposure to the criminal justice system, and employment, and how improving the opportunities would benefit the United States economy and individual communities. The report also highlights promising programs shown to improve outcomes for young people by helping them reach important life milestones.