The National Network for Youth has been serving the youth of America for more than 30 years by championing the needs of runaway, homeless and other disconnected youth. We do this through advocacy, innovation and services. Our reach is extended through our member organizations, allowing us to be in numerous communities throughout the country as we create a neighborhood of support for the next generation.
Our members are community-based organizations along with their neighborhood youth, adults, associations, and regional and state networks of youth workers. These builders of the future provide street-based services, emergency shelter, transitional living programs, counseling, and social, health, educational and job-related services to over 2.5 million youth each year.
The National Network is committed to ensuring that opportunities for growth and development be available to our neighbors everywhere. The youth we work with face greater odds due to abuse and neglect, homelessness, lack of resources, community prejudice, differing abilities and other life challenges.
National Network for Youth envisions a world where vulnerable youth have a safety net everywhere they turn — therefore creating positive and strong communities one youth at a time.
The mission of National Network is to connect and champion the needs of runaway, homeless, and other disconnected youth through our "TOOLBOX", which includes advocacy, innovation, community building and services.
Public Policy
One of the main focuses of the National Network for Youth is Public Policy. Our work includes education, networking, training, materials and policy work as we connect with federal, state, and local lawmakers, including:
- Advocating for legislation that will allow National Network members to better service their constituencies;
- Promoting the healthy development of youth and families;
- Protecting key legislation and spending affecting youth;
- Educating and guiding members of Congress, their staff and Administration officials;
- Providing testimony at governmental hearings;
- Distributing information to state, local and national policy makers;
- Working in coalition with other national youth and homelessness organizations;
- Advocating for sound youth policy through public speaking, workshops, seminars, and publications.
Professional Development
The National Network is widely recognized as a premier source of skills-based training and dissemination of evidence-based programs. Our staff conducts training, workshops, and conference for those in our community as we work together to build our community of support.
National Network has worked with community-based organizations, schools, state agencies and in state and local health departments and clinics. Training services are available in the areas of HIV, adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, youth development, and sexual minority youth.
Program Dissemmination
The National Network disseminates programs proven effective in reducing health risk-taking behaviors to community-based and youth serving organizations, health educators and state and local health education agencies nationwide.
Materials Development & Publication
The National Network is a publisher of high quality training materials. Subjects include Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth, Effective Youth Advocacy, Laws for Unaccompanied Youth, Homeless Parents and Welfare. The National Network also produces two member e-newsletters, a quarterly printed newsletter, fact sheets, issue briefs, occasional papers, and other resources for those working to build a community of support for the next generation.
Symposium
The National Network's annual conference in Washington, D.C. brings together youth workers,young people, decision makers and local, state, and national leaders from across the country. Symposium offers a forum for networking and information exchange as part of the continued development of youth workers.