The new year has begun with a sense of heaviness, marked by heightened uncertainty about the planet, the economy, and our communities. Already, we’re seeing the challenges ahead take shape, as the new presidential administration enacts policies rooted in exclusion, divisiveness, and cruelty.
For generations, young people have been failed by our government at every level, and the National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy (TYP Collab) remains committed to advancing youth-driven policy change — no matter who holds office. We know that young people’s experiences and vision are key to creating a brighter, more equitable future, and we will continue to push forward to ensure youth have the power to lead meaningful progress and thrive.
Check out our latest work, focusing on youth mental health care and youth-led policymaking:
Youth in Transition Summit 2024
Transition-age youth (16–25) face significant structural barriers to care, yet policymakers continue to propose solutions that overlook the crucial inclusion of youth voices. The second annual Transition-Age Youth Policy Summit aimed to address this gap, bringing together young people to share their ideas for a better future and youth experts to facilitate policy presentations. Centering youth in policymaking — from inception and design to implementation and evaluation — will allow us to build what youth panelist Brandon Bond described as “generational wellness.”
Youth Mental Health: Transformative Solutions
The youth mental health crisis continues, and we’re collaborating with young people to advance solutions that prioritize equity, access to care, and the wellbeing of all youth.
In her new blog, TYP Collab policy strategist Kayla Tawa discusses how stricter minor consent laws endanger young people’s health and wellbeing, calling out the parents’ rights movement’s push to further control children and emphasizing the urgent need for state policymakers to protect confidential and consensual healthcare. “We need to listen to the medical community, the advocates, and, above all, the young people whose lives are directly affected by these restrictive laws,” she writes.
“Mental health challenges among immigrant communities will likely increase if the incoming administration pursues the policies it campaigned on,” writes Masoumah Haidari, an intern with the TYP Collab, in our blog post on protecting the mental wellbeing of youth immigrants during and after elections.
We partnered with the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) to explore student mental health outcomes and develop a model for increasing access to equitable school-based mental health services. Our factsheet provides an overview of key findings and insights, including the importance of engaging students and families in the policymaking process.
Our executive director, Dr. Nia West-Bey, was a contributing author for the National Mental Health Equity Framework, which provides a blueprint for achieving transformative mental health care through policy, advocacy, and community-based interventions.
Donate Today to Support Youth-Powered Policy
Join us in shaping the policies and systems we deserve! 100% of your donation will support youth-driven change, helping to fund youth leadership and advocacy efforts with fair compensation, provide emergency assistance with the launch of our collective care fund, and center joy and community through celebrations and incentives.
