Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP)
The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP), representing 12 federal departments and seven federal agencies*, was formed in 2008 to improve outcomes for young people by promoting collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and local organizations. AIR supports IWGYP by engaging youth in meaningful roles and productive adult-youth partnerships.
- AIR developed and maintains the IWGYP’s federal website, youth.gov (formerly FindYouthInfo.gov), which provides strategies and interactive tools to help youth-serving organizations and community partnerships plan, implement, and participate in effective programs. Site traffic for youth.gov increased by nearly 430 percent between 2010 and 2016.
- AIR developed and maintains the Evidence and Innovation microsite to identify strategies, tools, and resources that promote community-based efforts to address youth risk and protective factors. The Program Directory on this site provides information about using evidence-based programs and practices.
- AIR developed and maintains the Youth Engaged for Change (YE4C) microsite and Facebook page—the home of the IWGYP’s online youth engagement efforts—which allows young people to connect with opportunities to be change agents on personal, community, and national levels.
- AIR supported Pathways for Youth, a draft strategic plan with a focus on federal collaboration, by holding nationwide listening sessions, analyzing responses and data, and soliciting and summarizing stakeholder feedback. Pathways for Youth addresses IWGYP goals for youth; elevates strong models of youth programs, policies, and other supports; and articulates areas for future work.
- AIR provides logistical and meeting support to IWGYP, including monthly member meetings and outreach webinars on topics such as Trauma-Informed Approaches, Youth Engagement through Public-Service Internships, and Data- and Information-Sharing.
The IWGYP is chaired by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is funded jointly by the member agencies.
* U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, and Transportation; the Corporation for National and Community Service; the National Science Foundation; the Office of National Drug Control Policy; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the U.S. Small Business Association; and the U.S. Social Security Administration