2023 Youth-Centered Resource Round-up
2023 was a huge year for youth-driven, youth-centered, and youth-led collaboration and resource creation. From animated videos to handbooks and toolkits, check out some of the incredible resources we created for our community below!
We worked with our National Youth Advocates to create two handbooks on youth mentorship and peer navigation.
Explore the National Youth Mentorship and Peer Navigation Initiative resources to learn the foundations, practices, and strategies needed to establish and sustain a peer navigation program in your community.
With the help of our National Youth Advocates and the support of ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action Community Grant Program, we developed the Hire Youth! Best Practices for Peer Navigators handbook to hire, train, and support hundreds of youth mentors to provide peer navigation and support related to HIV prevention, treatment, and care and housing to QTBIPOC youth.
We produced two videos on the importance of placing power and resources in the hands of young people to end youth homelessness. The Trust Youth Initiative, a joint effort from Point Source Youth, the Ali Forney Center, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and UpTogether, is the first study of the effectiveness of direct cash transfers (DCT) with optional supportive services for youth experiencing homelessness. The participants in the New York City-based project (ages 18–24) receive $1,150 on a monthly basis for up to 2 years. With the support of the Economic Security Project, we have undertaken a video storytelling project to showcase the initial experiences of young adults who received the first round of direct cash transfers in New York City. Watch and share our video on the impact and growing body of evidence that shows that DCT can support youth and improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.
Our National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative’s cohort of leaders worked hard to expand youth mentorship in communities across the country. When young people experience homelessness, thrive as they live with HIV or brave discrimination on the basis of sexuality or identity, they have invaluable knowledge of how to best navigate these challenges. When a trusted peer navigator helps a young person navigate systems and services, youth become more connected to resources and new networks of peers, providers, and support groups. Watch the video we created, below, in collaboration with youth leaders to learn more about the importance and impacts of youth mentorship programs.