Youth Partnership

We conduct research and provide technical assistance to strengthen youth partnership in decision making across systems, programs, and policies. Our work helps public agencies, foundations, nonprofits, and community organizations build the conditions for youth to serve as informed, trusted partners. This includes developing sustainable structures for shared leadership, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and aligning engagement strategies with broader organizational goals. 

Our research identifies the practices, mindsets, and systems conditions that support authentic youth-adult collaboration. We study how organizations share power with young people, the outcomes that result, and the challenges that can undermine long-term partnership. These insights inform frameworks, tools, and implementation strategies designed for real-world use. 

Through our technical assistance, we work directly with clients to embed youth voice into governance and decision making. We support the design of engagement models, provide capacity-building for staff and youth, and help establish processes for reflection and continuous improvement. Our approach promotes leadership pathways for youth and fosters intergenerational dialogue and accountability. 

Youth frequently serve as partners in our work. We engage young people as co-designers, advisors, and contributors in both research and implementation activities. Their insights improve the relevance and rigor of our work and ensure that it reflects their lived experiences. 

By integrating research and practice, Child Trends helps institutions move beyond tokenism toward sustained youth-adult partnerships that result in more responsive and impactful decisions.