1. Pathways For Youth: Strategic Plan For Federal Collaboration

Pathways for Youth: Strategic Plan for Federal Collaboration

The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (Working Group) has developed a strategic plan, Pathways for Youth. Below you can see a brief overview of the plan. Click sections in the contents box to learn more about the background and plan development, vision, goals and objectives, and cross-cutting initiatives or view the entire Pathways for Youth: Strategic Plan for Federal Collaboration (PDF, 38 pages).

Introduction, Background, and Plan Development

The primary function of the Working Group is to support coordinated federal activities focused on improving outcomes for youth. The Working Group pursued a multistep strategy in developing the plan. This included the initial framework, public input process, and federal drafting effort.

Strategic Plan Framework

A Vision for Youth
The strengths-based vision for youth acknowledges the importance of pathways to opportunity for youth that include meaningful connections and safe, healthy, and stable places to live, learn, and work.
Goals & Objectives
Goal 1
Promote coordinated strategies to improve youth outcomes

 

 Objective 1—Align and simplify federal guidance for youth programs.
Objective 2—Coordinate youth programming and funding support at the federal, state, local, and tribal level.
Objective 3—Coordinate technical assistance efforts to leverage resources.
Goal 2
Promote the use of evidence-based and innovative strategies at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels		 Objective 1—Encourage the adoption of evidence-based strategies, and support their implementation.
Objective 2—Support innovation and deepen the evidence base to fill gaps in knowledge.
Goal 3
Promote youth engagement and partnerships to strengthen programs and benefit youth		 Objective 1—Promote youth-adult partnerships to support sustained youth engagement efforts and strengthen programs.
Objective 2—Provide and encourage federal, state, local and tribal provision of multiple opportunities for youth to develop, master, and apply critical skills, including life and leadership skills.
Cross-Cutting Initiatives
  1. Develop shared language on cross-cutting youth topics for federal grant applications and other federal documents and publications.
  2. Assess and disseminate models of collaboration that provide a pathway to opportunity for youth, and yield other positive results.
  3. Centralize and disseminate information on promising and evidence-based strategies for youth, including promising youth engagement and partnership strategies.
  4. Promote data collection and long-term evaluation of youth programs.

Download and Read the Strategic Plan (PDF, 38 pages)