American Youth Policy Forum

THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, TO PERFORM RESEARCH AND PUBLISH RESOURCES USEFUL TO POLICY MAKERS AND OTHERS WORKING ON YOUTH-RELATED ISSUES AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION AYPF WORKS TO TRANSFORM SILOED SYSTEMS (E.G., CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND EDUCATION) SO THAT THEY ARE CONNECTED AND EQUITABLE IN NATURE, VALUE PERSONAL STRENGTHS, AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS. AYPF PARTNERS WITH KEY POLICY AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE A CURATED FORUM FOR THEM TO DIRECTLY GROUND THEIR WORK IN THE EXPERTISE OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOCUS ON WHOLE YOUTH WELL-BEING. WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE FOREFRONT AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH A STRONG COALITION OF LIKE-MINDED PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AYPF SEEKS TO DEVELOP THE STRUCTURE AND COLLECTIVE FORCE THAT WILL BUILD THE MOMENTUM NECESSARY TO CREATE A NEW COMPELLING NARRATIVE, AS WELL AS SECURE SUPPORT FOR POLICIES THAT REMOVE BARRIERS TO YOUTH SUCCESS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO THRIVE. YOUTH POLICY CONSULTANT PROGRAM TO CREATE POLICIES THAT REFLECT THE STRENGTHS AND REALITIES OF YOUTH WHO EXPERIENCE SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES, THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF YOUTH VOICE MUST BE AT THE CENTER OF THE POLICY PROCESS. WITH THIS IN MIND, AYPF CREATES SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE WITH POLICYMAKERS ON THOSE POLICY ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEM THE MOST: K-12 EDUCATION, SUCCESS IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, PATHWAYS TO WORK, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC SECURITY AND MOBILITY. AYPF'S YOUTH POLICY CONSULTANT PROGRAM ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES BASED ON THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE ON VARIOUS TOPICS, SUCH AS EDUCATION EQUITY, HURDLES TO EMPLOYMENT, AND MUCH-NEEDED REFORMS TO THE JUSTICE AND CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS. RECOGNIZING THAT NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ATTEMPTED WITH MIXED SUCCESS TO INCLUDE YOUTH IN POLICYMAKING, AYPF IS GUIDED BY A SET OF STANDARDS, INFORMED BY YOUTH, RESEARCH, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, TO CREATE CONDITIONS THAT MORE FULLY SUPPORT THE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE WORK. KEY ELEMENTS INCLUDE TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND COMPENSATION FOR YOUTH; COMPENSATION AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS; AND ONGOING ENGAGEMENT WITH BOTH THE YOUTH AND ORGANIZATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER THE ENGAGEMENT TO DEMONSTRATE IMPACT.