Past Events

These are 2025 and 2026 recorded webinars. See older webinars on demand here. To see members only events, sign in to the member portal.

Too often, systems treat youth experiencing homelessness as passive recipients of services rather than active drivers of their own goals and progress.

Join National Network for Youth, EverFree, and Project Hope Alliance to explore a practical methodology for youth-centered care and how it works in real-world settings through the Freedom Lifemap (FLM).

Attendees will learn about youth homelessness, what systems they have to navigate to receive essential services, and how FLM supports youth-centered care. Speakers will walk through the self-assessment experience and practitioner tools to show how FLM shifts care planning from provider-directed case management to a collaborative process centered on youth voice to better serve youth experiencing homelessness.

This webinar was hosted September 16, 2026.

Employment is a critical pathway to long-term stability, but for too many young people experiencing homelessness, numerous barriers make it difficult to find, secure, and maintain meaningful work.

Join NN4Y for a webinar exploring the key findings and recommendations from our latest policy brief on employment pathways for youth experiencing homelessness.

We’ll examine the unique challenges young people face, discuss policy solutions, and highlight innovative strategies that providers across the country are using to support long-term economic and housing stability.

This webinar was hosted August 18, 2026.

This webinar will provide the latest federal policy updates related to child, youth, and family homelessness. We’ll cover:

• The status of FY2027 funding for key federal programs
• Updates on federal agency actions, including:
• OMB proposed government-wide changes to requirements and restrictions related to federal funding
• Notices of Funding Opportunity from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
• Notices of Funding Opportunity for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program and regulation changes
• Opportunities to advance legislation on homelessness, higher education, and other key issues.

This webinar is co-hosted with SchoolHouse Connection.

Join us to learn more about the LCSC model, what participation looks like, and how communities can apply. During this session, we’ll provide an overview of the opportunity, discuss what makes a strong application, review key application requirements and timelines, and answer questions from prospective applicants.

Selected communities receive up to 18 months of direct support to coordinate prevention and reduction of youth homelessness within their community.

This webinar was hosted on June 25, 2026.

In this session, National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC) members walk through what 2SLGBTQIA+ young people experiencing homelessness need to know about their rights related to housing, healthcare, education, workplace protections, privacy, vital documents, and safety — and what protections remain in place even amid today’s rapidly shifting policy landscape. Whether you’re a young person navigating these systems, a youth worker, or a community member who wants to show up for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, this session will leave you with clear, practical information and trusted resources drawn directly from the toolkit.

This webinar was hosted on June 24, 2026.

This webinar was hosted May 13, 2026. It explores what youth homelessness looks like, drawing on 2025 national data from the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) and its 24/7 crisis services, including 1-800-RUNAWAY. Presenters provide an overview of NRS, highlight key trends in youth homelessness, and share research-informed prevention opportunities for policymakers, youth-serving professionals, and community partners.

This webinar is co-hosted with National Runaway Safeline on May 13, 2026.

This webinar will provide the latest federal policy updates related to child, youth, and family homelessness.

We’ll cover:

• The status of FY2027 federal funding for key federal programs
• Updates on federal agency actions, including Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Notice of Funding Opportunities and requests for information at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Updates on federal agency lawsuits
• Opportunities to advance recently introduced legislation on homelessness, higher education, and other key issues

This webinar is co-hosted with SchoolHouse Connection.

This webinar was hosted on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern.

LGBTQ+ young people are disproportionately represented among youth experiencing homelessness, and shifting federal priorities have made safe, affirming care more urgent than ever.

Co-hosted with Ali Forney Center, this webinar will highlight actionable, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and gender-affirming approaches to youth homelessness service delivery, from program policies and intake practices to staff training and community partnerships. Participants will learn about:

• Practical tools to strengthen their programs and leave with concrete strategies to create safer, more inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth.
• Curated resource list for continued learning.
• Federal policy recommendations to strengthen protections and improve access to affirming services for LGBTQ+ youth.

This webinar was hosted on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern.

Join us for a webinar introducing our Consulting, Training, and Technical Assistance offerings and an overview of the Youth Action Leadership Certificate (YALC).

NN4Y provides nationally recognized training, facilitation, and consulting services to support state coalitions, Continuums of Care (CoCs), and community-based organizations working to prevent and end youth homelessness.

Participants will get a glimpse into NN4Y’s consulting and TA services, how offerings can be tailored to local needs, and upcoming resources. We will highlight the Youth Action Leadership Certificate (YALC), NN4Y’s cohort-based leadership development program for young people with lived experience and their allies. The next cohort begins in April, with registration opening in February.

This webinar was hosted on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern.

Join us to get prepared to pursue a Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 federal earmark! Earmark funding, also known as Community Project Funding or Congressionally Directed Spending, are one-time funds available to community-based organizations and schools for specific projects or programs.

This webinar will feature youth homelessness providers who have secured earmark funding. They will talk about the process and share practical advice for how to submit a strong earmark application.

This webinar was hosted on February 5, 2026. It provides the latest federal policy updates (as of February 5, 2025) related to child, youth, and family homelessness.

We cover:

• The current status of federal funding for education, early childhood, homelessness, and housing programs

• The status of litigation related to homelessness, child care, and education
• Federal agency actions, including the plan to transfer federal education programs to the U.S.Department of Labor
• The outlook for federal policy more broadly in 2026

This webinar is cohosted with SchoolHouse Connection.

This webinar was hosted on November 20, 2025. It provides the latest federal policy updates (as of November 20, 2025) related to child, youth, and family homelessness.

We cover:

• The agreement to reopen the federal government, and what it means for Head Start, housing, SNAP, WIC and other programs.
• The status of mass firing of federal agency staff at the U.S. Department of Education, including staff responsible for the education of students experiencing homelessness and students in foster care.
• The status of the most recent Runaway and Homeless Youth Act funding competition
• The recently-released 2025 HUD Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Continuum of Care and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)
• The prospects for FY2026 funding for federal programs serving children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.
• Changes to SNAP eligibility (food assistance) and strategies for ensuring that children, youth, and families can access food.

This webinar is cohosted with SchoolHouse Connection.

This webinar was hosted on November 19, 2025. Baker McKenzie and the National Network for Youth hosted an in-depth webinar on the launch and operation of the “I Am Here: Vital Document Legal Hotline for Youth” — a free, national legal information hotline designed to help young people overcome the barrier of lacking key documents like IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards.

Many youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability face legal and administrative hurdles when trying to obtain essential documents. These barriers can block access to jobs, education, services, housing, and more. In this webinar, our speakers introduced the Vital Document Legal Hotline — how it works, who it serves, and the scope of assistance (state-specific guidance, pro bono legal support, etc.).

This webinar was hosted on October 15, 2025. Pregnant and parenting youth are among the most overlooked populations experiencing homelessness, and yet they face some of the most complex challenges. From navigating health disparities and unsafe living conditions to balancing disrupted education and parenting responsibilities, these young people and their children need targeted, two-generation approaches to break cycles of instability.

This webinar spotlights providers on the front lines who are building and adapting programs to meet these needs. They’ll share best practices, what’s working in their communities, and the challenges they continue to face. Join us to learn directly from peers in the field, exchange strategies, and walk away with concrete ideas you can bring back to your own programs.

This webinar was hosted September 30, 2025. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, communities across the country have seen or are bracing for a surge in the criminalization of visible homelessness. For youth and young families experiencing homelessness—particularly those forced to sleep outdoors—this ruling is a direct threat to their safety, well-being, and civil rights.

The National Network for Youth (NN4Y) and the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC) hosted this critical webinar focused on equipping youth service providers, advocates, and local leaders with immediate and long-term strategies to protect all people experiencing homelessness, including young people from criminalization, advocate for humane policies, and ensure access to housing and services.

This webinar was hosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. As October 1 approaches, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have passed dramatically different versions of their FY2026 spending bills. With the new fiscal year just days away, critical decisions hang in the balance. What will it mean for children and youth experiencing homelessness, and what’s the broader outlook for federal policy?

This timely webinar provided the latest updates on federal developments affecting children and youth experiencing homelessness.

• FY2026 Federal Funding Outlook – Late-breaking information on Congressional action related to key discretionary programs, including the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program, and other federal programs.
• Executive Actions – An overview of recent administrative actions and what they mean for the field.

This webinar was hosted on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. It offers crucial insights for young independent contractors, small business owners, and the nonprofits that contract with them. It focuses on responsible engagement to prevent youth homelessness. It will cover legal essentials like labor laws, taxes, contracting, and public benefits, providing practical tools and best practices for equitable labor relationships.

This in-depth webinar was hosted on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. It is on this bipartisan legislation that reauthorizes and strengthens federal programs serving youth experiencing homelessness and those at risk of trafficking.

This webinar will cover how RHYTPA will update the important Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program and what you can do to help advocate for its passage.

This webinar was hosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Two major budget proposals are making their way through Congress in June and July 2025 – and both would dramatically reduce or eliminate support for children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.

This webinar provided the latest information on FY2026 funding for discretionary programs, including EHCY and RHYA, along with the budget reconciliation bill. This webinar was co-hosted with SchoolHouse Connection.

This webinar was hosted May 8, 2025. Increasing affordable housing options and offering targeted supportive services for young people is key to ending both youth and chronic homelessness. Youth homelessness often leads to adult homelessness, making early intervention essential. Increasing access to affordable housing improves physical and mental health outcomes, boosts educational attainment, and advances economic activity and mobility. Service programs designed for young people are particularly effective in helping navigate the important transition to adulthood.

Youth providers from across the country shared strategies for connecting young people to affordable housing and offer recommendations for fellow providers. Participants learned why increasing housing options and supportive services for youth is essential to ending homelessness and promoting long-term well-being.

This webinar was hosted on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Congress finished the FY2025 budget, and now turns to both FY2026 appropriations and budget reconciliation. Executive orders and executive actions continue to reshape federal agencies.

This webinar provided the latest information on how these developments impact children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. We also shared the most effective ways to educate legislators in the current environment. This webinar was co-hosted with SchoolHouse Connection.