This resource explains what schools can do to help connect the millions of uninsured adolescents in the United States to coverage. Learn more (PDF, 2 pages).  

Deadline: February 20, 2013
American Indian and Alaska Native youth who are 13-21 years old are encouraged to submit a photo, video, sentence, drawing, song, or text message that answers the question, “What do you look for in a relationship?” Winners will receive cash prizes of $75 (1st place), $50 (2nd place), and $25 (3rd place). Learn more.  

Date: February 13, 2013; 2:00PM-3:30PM ET
This webinar will feature national experts on domestic violence, child welfare, mental health and trauma, and fatherhood discussing the intersection between domestic violence and child maltreatment. Participants will also review and respond to a real-life case example. Learn more.

This blog entry discusses the Uninterrupted Scholars Act, a new law that added child welfare professionals to the list of approved people who can access foster youths’ education records and help transfer their credits to new schools. This can help ease the transition to a new school and increase the chances of these young people graduating from high school. Learn more.  

This report describes the characteristics and economic well-being of young people aging out of foster care who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB). Learn more.

Like the English-language version of StopBullying.gov, the new website provides teachers, parents, and community leaders with the resources they need to prevent bullying, including a Spanish-language Bullying Prevention Training Module. Learn more.

During the month of February, participate in a series of Teen Dating Violence Awareness webinars that will increase your knowledge of teen dating violence and give you the tools to start conversations about healthy relationships with the young people in your life. Learn more. 

Developed as part of the “What can YOU do?” initiative, the new “Because” public service announcement (PSA) features stories of real people with disabilities who have been able to achieve their goals because of the positive support they received from caring adult mentors, such as parents, friends, employees, and teachers. Learn more.

Application Deadline: February 19, 2013
The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to projects that develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and programs to improve the educational opportunities and achievement of preschool, elementary, and secondary American Indian students. Learn more.

Application Deadline: March 19, 2013
This solicitation will fund projects that support public safety, victim services, and crime prevention improvements for Native American and Alaska Native governments. Projects might address issues such as juvenile justice, youth substance abuse, sexual assault, and juvenile delinquency. Learn more.

A new report reveals that high school graduation rates are at their highest level since 1974. The report states that during the 2009-10 school year, 78.2 percent of high school students nationwide graduated on time, an increase from the 73.4 percent recorded in 2005-6. Learn more.

A new report from the EPA is a comprehensive compilation of information from a variety of sources on children’s health and the environment, illustrating trends for contaminants in air, water, food, and soil that may affect children, concentrations of contaminants in the bodies of children and women of child-bearing age, and childhood illnesses and health conditions. Learn more.

This article provides tips to youth-serving organizations on making their websites easier to navigate for people using phones or tablets. Learn more.

This podcast features Dr. Carl Lejuez of the University of Maryland discussing his research on risk taking and the implications of his findings for traumatized youth. Learn more.

Application Deadline: March 19, 2013
Approximately $75 million in grant funds are available for the YouthBuild program. These funds will help organizations oversee the provision of education, occupational skills training, and employment services to disadvantaged youth in their communities. Learn more.  

Application Deadline: February 25, 2013
The State Advisory Group Training and Technical Assistance Project will provide training and technical assistance to state advisory groups appointed under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974. Learn more.

A mechanical engineering professor at the University of South Florida has created a free, open courseware resource called Holistic Numerical Methods that offers video lectures, simulations, textbook chapters, PowerPoint presentations, multiple choice tests, and worksheets to help students across the world learn advanced math concepts. Learn more.

Date: January 30, 2013 2:00PM-3:00PM ET
This webinar, which will serve as the first in a series of webinars that will highlight recent research and advancements in underage drinking prevention, will feature an overview of the nature and extent of the problem of underage drinking, as well as potential solutions. Learn more.

Application Deadline: February 21, 2013
Funded under the Affordable Care Act, these grants will continue efforts to find and enroll eligible children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Learn more.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2013
SAMHSA is accepting applications for up to $1 million in National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center Follow-Up program grants. The purpose of this program is to promote follow-up assistance to suicidal individuals who call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program, are discharged from emergency departments, or are being otherwise helped by Lifeline crisis centers. Learn more.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2013
SAMHSA is accepting applications for up to $750,000 per year in Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act grants, which are aimed at preventing alcohol use among underage youth. Learn more.  

In recognition of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month NCFY gathered multiple resources that can help readers learn about what domestic sex trafficking is, what signs to look for in young people, and what can be done to help. Learn more.

Recently updated fact sheets highlight information about the reproductive health of adolescents. Learn more.

This tool can help users better understand what preventative health services they may need based on their age, sex, and reproductive status. Learn more.

Application Deadline: January 15, 2013
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Resource Center has announced grant opportunities for locally and tribally operated adult and juvenile detention facilities to establish zero tolerance cultures for sexual abuse and to meet the standards of the PREA. Learn more (PDF, 8 pages).  

This report presents trends in violent crime against youth, ages 12 to 17, reflecting that serious violent crime against youth dropped 77 percent from 1994 to 2010. Learn more.

This HealthBeat podcast highlights information from the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey about marijuana use, and the perception of the potential harm of marijuana use, among teens. Learn more.

CNCS is encouraging Americans to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy on January 21, 2013, by making the holiday a “day on,” instead of a day off, by participating in the national day of service. Learn more.

Access resources and tools to help you and/or someone you know quit smoking, and stick with it. Learn more.

Date: February 7, 2013 1:00PM-2:00PM ET
Presenters will discuss the recent report, Child Maltreatment 2011, and share findings that shed light on emerging issues in child abuse and neglect. Learn more and register.

Due Date: March 1, 2013
The annual Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership “Be Ready. Be Buckled.” art contest is open to kids in grades K-6 (ages 5-12) who have a relative or sponsor in the truck and bus industries. Artwork should illustrate the importance of commercial motor vehicle drivers buckling up, with an overarching message of “Safety Belts Save Lives.” Two grand prize winners will receive a U.S. Savings Bond and a framed copy of the artwork and will be honored at an awards ceremony. Twelve students will be featured in a 2014 calendar will receive a certificate of appreciation. Learn more.

NIDA has announced the results of the 2012 Monitoring the Future study, which is conducted annually  to better understand drug abuse trends among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders. This year’s survey includes information about the use of bath salts. Learn more.

The National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence has released a final report which includes 56 recommendations underscoring the importance of identifying children who are victims of, or witnesses to, violence, and providing services to help them heal. Learn more (PDF, 162 pages).  

A new federal student loan repayment plan, known as “Pay As You Earn,” limits monthly payments for many recent graduates to ensure the amount is affordable based on their income. Learn more.  

This report contains up–to-date information on volunteer participation and civic involvement in America. Key findings indicate that the volunteer rate for parents is higher than the national average, and that schools and youth service organizations are the most popular places for parents to volunteer. Learn more (PDF, 3 pages).  

In follow up to a report published by the Children’s Defense Fund, “Portrait of Inequality 2012: Black Children in America,” NCFY spoke with the Fund’s Mary Lee Allen about how youth workers can help address the disparities African American youth face. Learn more.

This report illustrates the prevalence of underage drinking and the prevention programs and efforts to address it. Learn more.

Session presentations and recordings from the 2012 conference are now available online. Learn more.

In follow up to their first study of kids’ mobile apps in 2011, the FTC has issued a new report, “Mobile Apps for Kids: Disclosures Still Not Making the Grade,” which illustrates that little progress has been made toward giving parents the information they need to determine what data is being collected from their children, how it is being shared, or who will have access to it over the past year. Learn more (PDF, 36 pages).

Deadline: December 10, 2012-December 21, 2012
SAMHSA is requesting public feedback on a concept paper that offers a working definition of trauma, a definition and a list of the key principles of a trauma-informed approach, and suggested guidelines for implementing a trauma-informed approach. This document builds upon the extensive work of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and people with lived experience in the field. A standard, unified working definition will serve to advance the understanding of trauma and a trauma-informed approach for multiple service sectors and multiple stakeholder groups and provide a foundation for SAMHSA's efforts around training and technical assistance and development of a measurement strategy for trauma. Individuals are encouraged to comment on the plan and also to endorse other’s comments by voting for them through the comment website. Learn more.

Date: December 20, 2012 from 3:00PM-4:15PM ET
In this webinar, experts will share how technology platforms, including geographic information system mapping and social media, have been leveraged in their communities to promote underage drinking reduction efforts. Learn more.  

This fact sheet can be used to support students who are recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy by helping them understand common reactions and ways to enhance their coping skills. It also provides a checklist of specific strategies. Learn more (PDF, 3 pages).  

Attorney General Eric Holder and European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström have launched the Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online, which will unite 49 countries in efforts to better identify and assist victims and to prosecute the perpetrators. Learn more.  

Date: December 14, 2012
Speakers and youth leaders from across Africa will participate in TEDxYouth@Bukoto, a forum that will showcase innovative solutions developed by Africa's most dynamic and creative young change-makers. The event, using the theme, “Our Moment,” will show how these young people, who have been working closely with the State Department to develop leadership, media, and entrepreneur skills, are harnessing their potential to create a new future for themselves and their communities. Learn more.  

This bulletin outlines some of the consequences of underage drinking including the effect that drinking can have on adolescent brain development. As outlined in the bulletin, studies show that continued use of alcohol and other drugs may hinder youth’s advancement to more complex stages of thinking and social interaction. Learn more (PDF, 12 pages).   

This quick guide helps agencies and facilities develop a comprehensive response to working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) youth. Learn more.

Nearly 900 youth from across the country and those overseas in Department of Defense schools, aged 13 to 18 years, took the StopBullying.gov Video Challenge. The Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention have screened all the creative videos and narrowed the field to the Top 7 entries. Vote today and help choose the winner and join the conversation to stop bullying on Facebook and Twitter.

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, We R Native is asking youth to share what makes them HIV aware and how they protect themselves and others. Youth can print out a sign from the We R Native website, add their names and a few words about how they protect their bodies and/or what HIV/AIDS is, and share photos of the signs on Facebook. Three winners each will receive a We R Native t-shirt and cash prize. Entries must be received by December 20, 2012. Learn more.

The President’s Environmental Youth Award program promotes awareness of our nation's natural resources and encourages positive community involvement by recognizing young people across the country for developing and implementing projects that protect our environment. One outstanding project from each region will be selected for national recognition. Applications are due December 31, 2012. Learn more.

This blog entry from the Office of National Drug Control Policy illustrates how the special relationship between young athletes and coaches provides an opportunity for supportive conversations around important issues such as drug use. Learn more.

As described in this blog entry from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA lab scientists at the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station in Albuquerque recently partnered with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services’ Los Lunas Plant Materials Center to host a minority outreach science day camp for the Pueblo of Acoma tribal youth. Learn more.

Produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health, “Transgender and Nongender Identity: A Youth Digital Story,” is a 15-minute video that highlights recommended practices, resources, and other information for supporting youth who identify as nongender or transgender. The video features endever* corbin sharing a personal narrative from a youth perspective to assist service providers, families, youth, and communities in better understanding gender and supportive practices. Learn more and see endever*’s Youth Voices profile in FindYouthInfo.gov.   

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states in the journal, Preventing Chronic Disease, more needs to be done to decrease the number of teens who smoke flavored tobacco from hookahs, as many young people are not aware of the risks of this behavior. Learn more.  

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is a community-wide approach to helping people (including unaccompanied youth) experiencing homelessness by providing the services they need to move into transitional and permanent housing. The CoC is designed to promote community-wide planning and strategic use of resources, improve coordination and integration, improve data collection and performance measurement, and allow each community to tailor its program to its unique strengths and challenges. Applications are due January 18, 2013. Learn more.  

As featured by the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth, a study published in Prevention Science describes preliminary findings from the Family Spirit trial, a home-visiting program designed to promote health and healthy behavior and reduce drug use among Native American teen mothers and their children. Learn more.

As featured by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the University of Minnesota released a study, “Academic Achievement Trajectories of Homeless and Highly Mobile Students: Resilience in the Context of Chronic and Acute Risk,” which examined academic achievement of students identified as homeless or highly mobile as compared with other students in the federal free meal program, reduced price meals, or neither. Learn more.

The Department of Education released data on state four-year high school graduation rates in 2010-2011, the first year for which all states used a common, rigorous measure. Learn more.

An article from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth highlights three recent studies that use data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and shed light on some of the factors that may make youth more likely to run away. Learn more.

A new publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services’ Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health, “Putting the Pieces Together: Guidebook for Fact-based Decision Making to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families,” provides important basics that will help staff who are new to using data to more effectively identify, use, evaluate, and monitor practices, services, and outcomes for children, youth, and families. Learn more (PDF, 42 pages).  

The Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network will host a webinar, “Click Activism: Youth Civic Engagement Through Online Participatory Cultures,” on December 3, 2012 from 2:00PM-3:00PM ET, that will feature a discussion of research on youth civic engagement and what participatory cultures and social media mean for youth programming, civic engagement, and leadership. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services has launched BeTobaccoFree.gov, a new website that brings together the best information on the health effects of tobacco use and the benefits of quitting smoking. The website contains information specifically targeted to teens about the risks of using tobacco products and resources for parents and teachers to help keep teens tobacco free. Learn more.

This blog entry from the Department of Education helps students with loans learn why it is important to keep in contact with their loan servicers in order to better understand the loan repayment process. Learn more.

This podcast, part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ HealthBeat series, features information from national survey data that indicates teens are the least likely group to take supplements. As a representative from the National Institutes of Health points out, taking supplements could help teens get the vitamins and minerals they need, but supplements are not the entire solution. Learn more.

As featured by the Department of Education, a new study published in the journal Addiction found that young people who try menthol cigarettes are 80 percent more likely to become regular smokers. Learn more.

The National Center for Education Statistics released, “Higher Education: Gaps in Access and Persistence Study,” a report that analyzes problems in postsecondary educational attainment by gender, race, and ethnic origin. Numerous factors that might play a role in educational attainment challenges, including poverty, school characteristics, and financial issues are also analyzed. Read more (PDF, 297 pages).

The Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics announced it is seeking comments on the 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study. This study will follow a group of students who enroll in postsecondary education during the 2011-2012 academic year and collect data on their completion of their programs, their transition to employment, demographic characteristics, and changes over time in multiple measures including their goals and income. Comments must be received by December 18, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 1 page).

This podcast from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth features two researchers discussing their collaboration with four youth programs, which centered around finding the best way to implement an evidence-based practice called motivational interviewing. Learn more.

The Department of Labor released a Workplace Flexibility Toolkit, which provides information on workplace flexibility, specifically around job tasks and what work is done, to employees, job seekers, employers, policymakers, and researchers. The toolkit facilitates access to over 170 resources especially for workers and job seekers with complex employment situations, such as at-risk youth, ex-offenders, and individuals with disabilities. Learn more.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released an analysis of how the relationship between high school courses and college attendance may have changed between the late 1970s and the late 1990s. Learn more.

Alaska Native youth, ages 13-21, to submit a photo, video, paragraph, drawing, song, or text message  that represents their Native pride and illustrates what makes them proud about their culture and traditions. Submissions are due November 20, 2012. Learn more.

A Spanish version of the Children’s Bureau’s resource, “Making Healthy Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care,” is now available. This publication provides information to youth in foster care on psychotropic medication and alternate approaches to treatment. Learn more (PDF, 28 pages).

The Children’s Bureau’s National Resource Center for Youth Development has released its Fall 2012 e-update that focuses on prescription psychotropic medication information. Learn more.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) new tool, Credentials for Youth: Success in the 21st Century Economy, guides youth through the process of attaining credentials in high-demand occupations. The tool also helps users connect to resources to find high-demand jobs in their area using labor market information. On November 15, 2012 from 12:00PM-1:00PM ET, DOL will host a live WIA Youth Chat on helping youth attain occupational credentials and move into employment, with a discussion about the new tool. Learn more.

On November 14, 2012 from 2:30PM-4:00PM ET, the Solutions Desk will present a webinar, “Addressing the Needs of Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents: The Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF).” This webinar will provide information on the Office of Adolescent Health’s (OAH) efforts to assist pregnant and parenting adolescents, highlight strategies used by OAH grantees, and showcase the PAF Resource and Training Center website. Learn more.

On November 14, 2012 from 2:00PM-3:30PM ET, the American School Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will host a webinar that will discuss how parent engagement in school health positively influences the health of children and adolescents. Learn more.

The Journal of Research on Adolescence is seeking submissions for a special section dedicated to youth gangs and adolescent development that will incorporate five to six papers. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2013. Learn more. 

The Office of National Drug Control Policy commemorated the first-ever National “Above the Influence” Day on October 18, 2012. More than 200 teen and community organizations took part in various youth-focused activities, and 85 communities conducted teen panel discussions on the importance of resisting negative influences and pressure to use alcohol and drugs. Learn more.  

In commemoration of Children’s Health Month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a checklist of 31 tips to help parents and caregivers promote environmental health. Learn more (PDF, 1 page).

As featured on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth, a series of studies from the University of Southern California School of Social Work suggests that staying connected to friends and family through cell phone use and social media can help homeless youth avoid depression, drug use, and HIV. Learn more.  

Supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Building Bridges Initiative Youth Advisory Group has created two documents that provide guidance around youth engagement and a youth-guided approach in residential settings. Learn more.

Multiple agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services are seeking input on strategies to improve suicide prevention efforts for children and youth in emergency medicine settings. Information about important research questions related to mental health and substance use disorders from a variety of stakeholders is requested. Responses must be received by November 9, 2012. Learn more.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Department of Justice will now partner with the United Way’s 2-1-1 “call for service” line, which the public can use to reach services that assist children exposed to violence. Increased access to screening, assessment, and treatment services for children exposed to violence will be made possible through the advent of this partnership. Learn more.

As many students who graduated in the spring of this year will soon be reaching the deadline to begin repaying their student loans, the Department of Education has posted a blog entry to help students brush up on the basics of student loans. The entry includes information about the types of loans, interest rates, and more. Learn more.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has created an online tool, “Family Checkup: Positive Parenting Prevents Drug Abuse,” that parents can use with their families to prevent drug abuse. The tool provides questions that help parents learn more about specific skills, such as communication and negotiation, as well as videos that demonstrate positive and negative examples of the skills in action. Learn more.

Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Deb Delisle, assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, met with the National Council of Young Leaders, a new established group of young people, ranging in ages from 18-34, from both urban and rural low-income areas, who advise policy makers and other leaders on how issues affect low-income youth and their communities. Learn more.

In observance of Bullying Prevention Month and National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, both held in October, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has developed a blog post that highlights the shared risk and protective factors involved in both bullying and substance abuse for young people. The post illustrates how effective prevention efforts can help us learn to recognize the warning signs of both bullying and substance abuse and intervene before the issues escalate. Learn more.

In follow up to her speech at the Clery Center for Security on Campus’s 25th anniversary gathering, Mary Lou Leary, acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Justice Programs, discusses the issue of campus violence and how the Department of Justice and other organizations are working to protect students and help victims. Learn more.  

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth has recommended four ways youth workers can help stop bullying in their programs and communities, including identifying victims' legal recourse and working with youth to create an action plan. Learn more.

In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring information on youth-led prevention campaigns in the form of interviews with young people working with these programs that help prevent domestic violence in their communities. Learn more.

Women between the ages of 16 and 24 are among the most vulnerable to intimate partner violence. Read the Presidential Proclamation of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and learn more about teen dating violence by visiting the FindYouthInfo.gov youth topic.  

As featured by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, October is National Youth Justice Awareness Month. Sponsored by the Campaign for Youth Justice, National Youth Justice Awareness Month aims to increase awareness of the consequences of prosecuting young people in the adult system and brings communities together to advocate for reform. Learn more.

As part of the implementation of the Obama Administration’s road map for civic learning, “Advancing Civic Learning and Engagement in Democracy” (PDF, 32 pages), which outlines nine steps the Department of Education (ED) is undertaking to increase civic learning and engagement, ED is requesting public input on some of these specific steps, as well as a definition of “civic learning and engagement.” Comments must be received by November 30, 2012. Learn more about the request for input and learn more about civic engagement by visiting the FindYouthInfo.gov youth topic.  

Jordan, a young person who, despite appearing to his peers to have it all, struggled with depression and a suicide attempt. Jordan is now sharing his message of hope and recovery in order to help others facing similar challenges. Learn more about Jordan and the 2012 National Suicide Prevention Strategy.   

In commemoration of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Office of National Drug Control Policy is featuring a profile of a community that, in the face of resistance, held an alcohol-free quinceañera, a special event that honors Latina girls as they turn 15. Learn more.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sponsored an event on September 5-6, 2012 titled, “Family Drug Courts: A National Symposium To Improve Family Recovery, Safety, and Stability.” The event provided an opportunity for substance abuse treatment, child welfare, and court professionals to share information. All of the presentation materials for this symposium are now posted online. Learn more and access the materials.   

According to the latest findings from the Synar Amendment Program, managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, just 8.5 percent of retailers illegally sold tobacco to youth in 2011, as compared with 40.1 percent of retailers in 1997, the first year these data were collected. Learn more.

October 2012 is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, which serves as a time to engage in and promote substance abuse prevention efforts. Read the Presidential Proclamation of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and visit the FindYouthInfo.gov youth topic to learn more about how substance abuse affects youth

Results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health show a 14 percent decline in the non-medical use of prescription drugs among young people age 18 to 25 from 2010 to 2011. The report also reflects a decline in the rates of past-month drinking, binge drinking, and heavy drinking among underage people between 2002 and 2011. Learn more.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the award of up to $15.1 million in grants to prevent underage drinking through the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act grant program, which provides funds for community-based coalitions to prevent and reduce alcohol among youth. Learn more.  

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring tips for youth workers on how they can help young people take advantage of internships to the fullest. These tips include reviewing “soft skills,” like communication and professionalism, suggesting youth ask for references, and discussing how to update a resume. Learn more.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention invites communities to participate in Lights on Afterschool, a nationwide event that emphasizes the value of afterschool programs, on October 18, 2012. Learn more about Lights on Afterschool and access resources to help you plan your celebration. 

A new search tool from the Department of Labor allows students to search more than 7,000 scholarships, fellowships, loans, and other types of student financial aid and to filter search results for opportunities specifically for students with disabilities. Learn more.

Attorney General Eric Holder and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary announced that four new cities will join the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, a White House initiative to prevent youth violence and gang activity and improve public safety.  The new cities to join are New Orleans, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Camden, N.J. Learn more about the Forum. 

This video, created in observance of National Recovery Month, features Ben, a young person who struggled with alcohol addiction as a teenager, discussing how alcohol affected his life and how treatment has given him hope. Learn more and read more inspiring stories of recovery.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Youth Farm and Market Project in Minneapolis, MN, a program that teaches young people how to grow and harvest their own food, while fostering youth empowerment and the development of young leaders. Learn more.  

The Department of Labor announced seven states will receive $20.7 million in funding under the Disability Employment Initiative to improve education, training, and employment opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities, who are un/under-employed and/or receive Social Security disability benefits. Learn more.  

Young people seeking valuable professional and leadership experience are encouraged to apply to the Spring 2013 White House Internship program. In addition to taking on departmental tasks, all White House interns participate in events such as a weekly speaker series, field trips, and mentorship opportunities. Interns also have opportunities to participate in service projects at schools and non-profit organizations in Washington, DC. Applications are due September 23, 2012. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has released “Effects and Consequences of Underage Drinking,” a bulletin that illustrates findings from a literature review that examined how underage drinking can affect youths’ physical, emotional, and neurological health. Learn more.  

The Department of Labor has announced the award of $1.1 million to the Institute for Educational Leadership to manage and operate the Office of Disability Employment Policy's new National Technical Assistance and Demonstration Center on Preparing Youth with Disabilities for Employment. The center will build capacity of youth service delivery systems to improve employment and postsecondary education outcomes for youths with disabilities. Learn more.  

The Department of Education has announced the award of more than $9.8 million in grants to 16 states to operate 25 Parent Training and Information Centers for parents of students with disabilities. It has also awarded $1.1 million to 11 Community Parent Resource Centers in nine states and Puerto Rico. The centers provide parents with information to help them work with service providers in meeting the special needs of their children. Learn more.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and PreventConnect will hold a webinar on September 18, 2012 from 2:00PM-3:30PM ET that will focus on using the CDC’s new online tools and resources in child maltreatment prevention and will feature discussions about linkages to sexual abuse and intimate partner violence prevention led by a child maltreatment prevention practitioner. Learn more.

On September 10, 2012 the Action Alliance along with the Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, released the revised National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, which emphasizes the role every American can play in protecting their friends, family, and colleagues from suicide. Learn more.

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued remarks in commemoration of the start of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Learn more.

A new video, featured by Disability.gov, highlights the findings from a study of college freshman with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study found that the students had not planned their college transition well and did not factor their ADHD into their college choice. Learn more. 

As featured by Disability.gov, a new resource developed by Common Sense, Inc. “Standing up, Not Standing By: A Free Cyberbullying Toolkit for Educators,” helps educators teach students of all grade levels about bullying on the Internet and how to take a stand against it. Learn more.

The Department of Education published a request for public comments around identifying strategies for preparing at-risk youth for postsecondary success, which involves dropout prevention and preparation for higher education and/or training. Comments are due by September 10, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 2 pages).

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is encouraging fifth-grade students to participate in the National Missing Children’s Day poster contest. This contest creates an opportunity for discussion around missing/exploited children and child safety. The contest winner will be invited to Washington, DC to participate in the National Missing Children’s Day commemoration in May 2013. Learn more.

A new web page on the National Institute of Corrections website provides information and resources regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) youth in juvenile corrections settings. Learn more.

The Department of Justice has released, “Implementing the Prison Rape Elimination Act: A Toolkit for Juvenile Agencies and Facilities." This document offers guidelines for preventing, detecting, and eliminating sexual abuse of residents and for responding to abuse when it happens. Learn more (PDF, 104 pages).

As featured in the Department of Labor’s Disability.Blog, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) has published helpful fact sheets on multiple topics—such as autism spectrum disorders, emotional disturbance, and traumatic brain injury— that can be useful to educators and parents. Learn more.

In follow up to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ "Employment and Unemployment Among Youth Summary," Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued a statement saying that “…while there's still work to be done, opportunities are growing for young people around the country.” Learn more.

The Department of Education announced it is accepting applications for the 2012 Race to the Top-District competition, which will provide nearly $400 million to support school districts in implementing local education reforms. Districts are asked to submit an intent to apply by August 30, 2012 and applications are due October 30, 2012. Learn more.

The federal government’s Back to School webpage is full of resources and tips for educators, students, and parents as the new school year begins. Learn more.

As featured in the Department of Education’s “ED Review,” Share Our Strength released the results of a national survey that found that 60% of teachers reported having students who regularly come to school hungry, and that students who are hungry have lower academic performance, health issues, and behavioral problems. Learn more.

In a new study, profiled on the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth’s website, researchers asked 51 runaway and homeless youth in New Orleans about their drug use and their levels of self-esteem and self-efficacy. According to the results, the youth surveyed had slightly above-average self-esteem and self-efficacy, illustrating the fallacy in the assumption that these youth lack self-confidence. The results also showed that most youth who drank and used drugs had substance abuse problems, meaning youth workers should be aware of drinking paired with drug use. Learn more.

On August 23, 2012 the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid will hold #AskFAFSA Office Hours on Twitter to answer students’ questions about staying financially responsible as the new school year begins. Follow @FAFSA or the #AskFAFSA hashtag on Twitter to join.

A new resource from the Children’s Bureau, “Making Healthy Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care,” provides information to youth in foster care on psychotropic medication, and the role they can have in their overall health care, as well as alternate approaches to treatment. Learn more (PDF, 24 pages).

The National Center for Juvenile Justice has released “Juvenile Court Statistics 2009,” a report that profiles more than 1.5 million delinquency cases and more than 140,000 status offense cases processed by courts with juvenile jurisdiction in 2009 and tracks trends in delinquency and petitioned status offense cases over several decades. Learn more.  

In support of the Defending Childhood Initiative, the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will provide funds for a training and technical assistance provider to create and disseminate resources that will enhance law enforcement and partner agencies’ response to children exposed to violence. Applications are due August 27, 2012. Learn more.

As profiled on the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth’s website, a new study analyzed whether an improvement in planning and problem-solving skills could help homeless youth avoid risky behaviors. Learn more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data from the 2011 National Youth Tobacco Survey and found that during 2000–2011, there was a linear downward trend observed in the prevalence of current tobacco use, current combustible tobacco use, and current cigarette use among middle and high school students. Learn more.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has declared the month of August to be Connected Educator Month, a celebration and exploration of online communities and networks aimed at increasing educator participation. Learn more.

The Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention will host a webinar, “Cyberbullying: What You Can Do,” on August 15, 2012 from 2:00PM-3:30PM ET. Participants will learn how schools, parents, and communities can help prevent cyberbullying. Learn more. 

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will provide funds to conduct a multisite process and outcome evaluation of its Mentoring Enhancement Demonstration program. The program aims to improve the effectiveness of mentoring by supporting collaborations of mentoring program sites. Applications are due August 16, 2012. Learn more.

As the new school year approaches, young people should check with their doctors to make sure their immunizations are up to date. Learn more about the vaccinations recommended for pre-teens and teens.

A new project—developed by the National League of Cities, in collaboration with non-profit organizations, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture—aims to help local elected officials address the policy and environmental factors that influence childhood obesity by enhancing the work of Let’s Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties, a key component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. Learn more.

Funding is available from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) for three state or local juvenile justice administering agencies to develop and implement a set of evidence-based and cost-measurement tools intended to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth while also saving money. Learn more (PDF, 26 pages). OJJDP will also provide funding for a comprehensive process and outcome evaluation of this initiative. Learn more (PDF, 21 pages). Applications for both funding opportunities are due by 11:59 p.m. E.T. on August 23, 2012.

The Office of Adolescent Health has launched a new online Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) Resource and Training Center. The new center provides training and technical assistance resources to professionals working with pregnant and parenting teens. Designed for PAF grantees and other professionals in the field, the Resource and Training Center contains training and skill-building information as well as guides, tips and location-specific information to build the capacity of organizations supporting pregnant and parenting teens. Learn more.

As reported in the latest update from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, between 2008 and 2010, an annual average of 1.4 million girls aged 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode (MDE), which is three times the rate of their male peers. The percentage of girls who experienced an MDE tripled between the ages of 12 and 15. Learn more (PDF, 1 page).

The Department of Education awarded 56 grants, totaling $27 million, to school districts and community organizations to fund the implementation of comprehensive physical fitness and nutrition programs for students. Programs must help students progress toward meeting state standards for physical education and offer education around healthy eating habits and nutrition. Learn more.

The Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics has released a report, “Trends Among Young Adults Over Three Decades, 1974-2006.” This report outlines patterns of change in postsecondary enrollment, labor force roles, family formation, and civic engagement as measured in young adults two years out of high school in 1972, 1980, 1992, and 2004. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring an article on its website detailing a study in which researchers asked youth in urban homeless shelters if staff members consider young people’s opinions about their programs. The article offers insight into how youth can be engaged in the design and implementation of services. Learn more.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway website has developed a new page specifically dedicated to information about youth. Resources available include information about positive youth development, transitioning to adulthood and independent living, youth program evaluation, training for professionals working with youth, and building partnerships with youth and families to promote positive outcomes for youth. Visit the page.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy announces the availability of funds to operate the National Technical Assistance and Demonstration Center on Preparing Youth with Disabilities for Employment, which will provide technical assistance and training to current and future DOL grantees around integrating evidence-based effective practices for improving transition results for young people with disabilities enrolled in their programs. Applications are due August 17, 2012. Learn more.

The Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students will host a national conference August 8-9, 2012. The theme of the conference will be, “Meeting the Challenge:  Building and Sustaining Capacity to Improve Conditions for Learning” and the focus will be five emerging issues that influence conditions for learning. Learn more and register.

The Department of Education will host the third annual Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit from August 6-7, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The focus of the summit will be the coordination of anti-bullying efforts that are based on research. Learn more.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will fund projects that investigate the link between alcohol advertising and promotions and young people’s alcohol use. Applications are due October 5, 2012. Learn more.

Prepared by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, “America’s Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2012” is now available. This report highlights 14 key indicators on important aspects of children’s lives across seven domains, including family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. Learn more.

This article from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth provides youth-serving organizations with tips on how to start monthly giving programs that encourage donors to contribute on a regular basis. Learn more.

This podcast from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth features a young person discussing her encounter with the Homeless Youth Alliance in San Francisco after she ran away from home as a teenager, and how she came to work for the alliance as an outreach counselor. Learn more.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, the first over-the-counter home-use rapid HIV test kit to detect the presence of antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that of the 1.2 million people in the United States with HIV, about one in five is not aware that he or she is infected. Undiagnosed HIV cases are also thought to be highest among young people. Learn more and see FindYouthInfo’s feature article about the National Resource Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention Among Adolescents.

The second installment of the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth’s “Intern Chronicles” series features an update on Craig, a youth with an internship at a transitional living program, as well as tips for young people on overcoming on-the-job challenges. Learn more and see the FindYouthInfo youth topic on youth employment.

The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is sponsoring its first ever national essay contest for young writers, encouraging 14- to 21-year-olds involved in an FYSB-funded Street Outreach, Basic Center, or Transitional Living Program to share their stories. The deadline for submissions is September 7, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 2 pages).

As part of its Screening and Assessment for Trauma in the Child Welfare Setting Speaker Series, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) will host a webinar, “The Application of Trauma Screening/Assessment in Child Welfare Settings: Part I - Systems Level,” on July 26 from 12:00PM-1:30PM EST. Presenters will discuss how to implement universal trauma screening and potential sustainability issues in an already over-burdened child welfare system. Learn more and register by creating an account with NCTSN.

A report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are far more likely to use alcohol for the first time during the summer than during other parts of the year. December is the only other month with comparable levels. Learn more (PDF, 10 pages).

As part of the Let’s Read. Let’s Move. initiative, the Corporation for National and Community Service has compiled a list of things people can do to help children maintain active minds and bodies during the summer months. Learn more.

Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the new web-based Refugee Services Toolkit is designed to help service providers identify the mental health needs of refugee children and their families and connect them with the most appropriate interventions. Create an account with NCTSN to view the toolkit.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is seeking applications for the Defending Childhood Resource Center: Improving the Nation's Response to Children Exposed to Violence solicitation. As part of this project, a resource center will be created that will provide training and technical assistance for state, local, tribal, and private organizations that serve children who are exposed to, or at risk for exposure to, violence. Applications are due July 30, 2012. Learn more.

On June 25, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that state laws that sentence juveniles convicted of murder to life in prison without parole are unconstitutional. Learn more (PDF, 62 pages).

A recently released publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Identifying Mental Health and Substance Use Problems of Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Child-Serving Organizations,” provides guidance and tools for early identification of mental health or substance use problems in children and youth in various settings. Learn more.

As featured in the latest update from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth, a new checklist developed by the National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University can help organizations measure how LGBTQ-friendly their staff and services are. Learn more.

This HIV/AIDS Prevention & Service Provider Locator search tool can be used to find testing services, housing providers, health centers, and other service providers. Learn more.

As featured in the latest update from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth, a new study analyzes the factors that might prevent lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth from getting services they need, such as mental and physical health care and referrals to housing. Learn more.

The Family and Youth Services Bureau is accepting applications for the Street Outreach Program, which funds organizations that provide street-based services to runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution or sexual exploitation. Applications are due August 6, 2012. Learn more.

A study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health found the rate of bipolar symptoms among teens in the United States is nearly as high as the rate found among adults, underscoring the thought that the disorder first appears in youth. Learn more.

Two recent studies funded by the National Institute of Mental Health found that approximately 8 percent of teens in the United States meet the criteria for having a serious emotional disturbance. Learn more.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of the Youth Sustainability Challenge, a project that encouraged youth to submit a video that shared what they are doing to make their community more sustainable. View the winning submissions.

The Administration on Children, Youth and Families is accepting applications from local organizations and entities for the development and implementation of the Personal Responsibility Education Program in Florida, Indiana, North Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. This program will support projects that educate youth, including pregnant and parenting youth, about abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. Applications are due August 6, 2012. Learn more.

On July 25, 2012 from 3:00PM-4:30PM EDT, staff from the Children's Bureau will hold a webinar to highlight findings from the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD), a reporting system that collects information about youth who are in foster care or who have aged out, from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2011. Staff will provide an overview of the first cohort of youth surveyed by states as part of NYTD. Learn more and register.

The Administration for Children and Families will fund projects that demonstrate the effectiveness of family-finding and family group decision-making programs. Projects must also demonstrate how family members will be engaged in building their capacity to meet the needs of children and youth in their care. Applications are due July 20, 2012. Learn more.

In a podcast featured in the latest update from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth, Bryan Samuels, commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, and Andrew Barnett, executive director of the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League, discuss the need to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth in teen pregnancy prevention efforts. Learn more.

National Safe Place has created TXT 4 HELP Interactive, which allows youth to text live with a mental health professional. Learn more.

On June 5, 2012 Vice President Biden, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Richard Cordray, met with presidents and officials from ten colleges, universities, and state systems of higher education to discuss the importance of providing students and families with clear information about the cost of attending college and financial aid. Learn more.

The Department of Transportation and Challenge.gov invite students to brainstorm and share innovative solutions to specific transportation challenges including designing a profile icon for social networking sites that illustrates cell phone safety, developing a tool to make bus driver safety records easily available, and creating solutions to real-world aviation and aerospace issues. Learn more.

The Department of Education is requesting public feedback on the proposed College Savings Account Research Demonstration Project, which will provide $8.7 million to finance college savings accounts for 10,000 low-income students who participate in the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs initiative. Learn more. 

The Administration for Children and Families and four national foundations are partnering to fund five grantees for five years to demonstrate the effectiveness and cost-savings of projects incorporating stable housing and comprehensive services that focus on safety, positive family functioning, and child well-being. Applications are due July 30, 2012. Learn more.

As part of its monthly Public Health Grand Rounds webcast series, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will present a live webcast titled, “Breaking the Silence – Public Health’s Role in Intimate Partner Violence Prevention.” The webcast, which will be broadcast on June 19, 2012 from 1:00PM-2:00PM EST, will focus on prevention efforts aimed at reducing intimate partner violence. Watch the live webcast and see FindYouthInfo.gov’s Teen Dating Violence youth topic to learn more about the prevalence and consequences of teen dating violence.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health has released the 2011 national, state, and local Youth Risk Behavior Survey results. These results show significant improvements in many health behaviors during the past two decades, as well as new possible risks resulting from an increased use of technology. Learn more.

A Federal Register Notice has been published to invite the public to comment on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) intention to conduct a Farm to School Census, which will be used to establish a baseline measure of local food purchases in schools and set priorities for USDA programming related to local school food sourcing. Learn more (PDF, 3 pages).

To kick off LGBT Pride Month, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan met with students from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network to talk about their experiences with bullying and how to fix this problem. Students encouraged the Secretary to start collecting information about behavior toward the LGBT community through the Civil Rights Data Collection in order to identify the severity and scope of LGBT bullying and harassment across the country. Learn more.

The month of June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. Read the statement about LGBT Pride Month from Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The Administration for Children, Youth and Families’ Children's Bureau announces the availability of competitive grant funds to support the development of triage procedures for families who come to the attention of the child welfare system. This may occur due to severe housing issues and service needs. Funds will also support local implementation of supportive housing services that integrate community services for housing and other critical services, customized case management services, and evaluations that examine the process and implementation outcomes for these grants. Applications are due July 30, 2012. Learn more.

The Department of Justice has published, “AMBER Alert Best Practices,” which discusses the most effective strategies that AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) partners have provided for recovering missing children. Learn more (PDF, 64 pages).

The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy announced the launch of its first disability-related application challenge. Awards and cash prizes will be given to the top three submissions. Submissions are due August 23, 2012. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center has developed a new College e-Kit, designed to connect law enforcement, prevention advocates, campus representatives, students, and other community leaders with resources to effectively reduce underage student access to, and consumption of, alcohol. Learn more.

The Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics has released, “The Condition of Education 2012,” which summarizes important developments and trends in education. The report includes 49 indicators on the status and condition of education and a closer look at high schools across the country over the past two decades. Learn more.

Funds are available from the Administration for Children and Families’ Children's Bureau for regional partnerships that provide services designed to increase the well-being and safety of children who are in out-of-home placements, or are at risk of being placed in out-of-home placements, as a result of a parent's or caretaker's substance abuse. Applications are due July 16, 2012. Learn more.

Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, the Farm to School Grant Program assists eligible entities in implementing programs that improve access to local foods in schools, assist schools in procuring food from local producers, and provide education efforts such as school gardens, field trips to local farms, and cooking classes. Applications are due June 15, 2012. Learn more.

This funding opportunity from the Office of Minority Health seeks to improve the HIV-AIDS health outcomes of high-risk minority youth by supporting community-based efforts to increase prevention and education efforts, testing, counseling, and referrals. Applications are due June 8, 2012. Learn more.

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board will host the 2nd Annual THRIVE conference for Native youth from June 25-29, 2012. Learn more about the conference (PDF, 1 page) and THRIVE.

The White House is requesting nominations of individuals who are Champions of Change for homeless children and youth. Those selected will attend an event at the White House on July 12, 2012. Nominations are due June 4, 2012. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth produced a podcast featuring a Miami street outreach worker, who specializes in helping victims of sex trafficking, discussing how to approach and help sexually exploited youth. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Heads Up program has joined with multiple sports entities and equipment manufacturers to launch a youth football safety and helmet replacement program for youth in underserved communities. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is accepting applications for its FY 2012 Teen Court Program grants. This program provides treatment and recovery support services to youth who are involved in a teen court program and have substance abuse and/or co-occurring treatment needs. Applications are due May 30, 2012. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has released the second issue of its online publication, the Journal of Juvenile Justice. This issue features articles on truancy intervention, polygraph testing for juveniles, homeless youth and arrest history, education in juvenile detention facilities, and juvenile reentry. Learn more.

A new report from the Urban Institute, funded by the Department of Justice, presents findings from a study of youth living in a high-risk neighborhood that explores how interpersonal relationships and peer networks shape youths’ potential for violence, delinquency, and gang membership. Read the report (PDF, 273 pages). 

A new report released by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration illustrates that children and youth participating in community-based programs, who are involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, demonstrate improved outcomes after receiving trauma-informed services. Learn more and access the report.

New study information featured in the latest installment of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report, published by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shows how many full-time college students and other young adults have experienced a major depressive episode in the last year, how the episodes affected the groups differently, and the likelihood of both groups to receive specialty mental health treatment. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families’ Family and Youth Services Bureau is requesting applications for the Basic Center Program, which funds community-based programs that address the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families. Applications are due July 9, 2012. Learn more.

As part of National Prevention Week (May 21-26, 2012), the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will host a live webcast highlighting communities that are using Town Hall Meetings to engage individuals and organizations in the use of evidence-based environmental prevention of underage drinking. This webcast will take place on May 21, 2012 from 1:00PM-2:30PM ET. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring a Q&A on its site about the declining national teen pregnancy rate and the trends in behavior that have contributed to it. Learn more.

This new webcast from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration discusses mental and substance use disorders among young people, presents effective approaches to preventing underage substance use, and examines the role of multiple groups in prevention, treatment, and recovery. Learn more.

The Department of Education’s Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center has announced a new feature on its website called “Voices from the Field.” This section of the site allows administrators, teachers, family members, and others to share what they are doing to make schools safe and supportive, respond to polling questions, and access resources. Learn more.

Learn how you can lead a healthy life that includes physical activity and good nutrition by visiting the Let’s Move! website and reading about the President’s Challenge, which helps people of all ages increase their physical activity and improve their health.

On May 23, 2012 from 3:30PM-4:30PM ET, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Teen CYFERnet Editorial Board will present a webinar titled, “It’s Epidemic: Prescription Drug Abuse and How to Prevent It.” Presenters will discuss the latest trends in prescription drug abuse, particularly among youth. Participants will also learn about an evidence-based approach that uses the Cooperative Extension System to promote positive youth development and decrease local prescription drug abuse. Learn more.

In celebration of Public Service Recognition Week, May 6-12, 2012, the Department of Education is dedicating its Twitter FAFSA Office Hours this week to answering questions about government-sponsored programs that help current and future public servants, like police officers and teachers, fund their higher education. On May 11th at 1:00PM ET, Follow @FAFSA or the #AskFAFSA hashtag on Twitter to join the conversation. Learn more.

The White House will provide 300,000 jobs and employment opportunities to disadvantaged youth through The White House Summer Jobs+ initiative, which includes 90,000 paid jobs, as well as thousands of mentorships, internships, and other training opportunities. Learn more and search the Summer+ Jobs Bank to find a job.  

As a result of the first-ever National Summit on Campus Safety for College and University Presidents, held by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) in October 2011, the new Presidential and Trustee Leadership - Sexual Violence, Intimate Partner Violence & Stalking web page has been developed. This web page, developed by the Department of Education’s Higher Education Center in partnership with OVW staff, provides information and resources on sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking as well as specific actions presidents and trustees can take in addressing these issues. View the web page.

The latest blog post from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) discusses how the USDA is changing the definition of “being on the clock” by offering more virtual internships for college students. Learn more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be administering the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) National Youth Fitness Survey in order to provide an evaluation of the health and fitness of children in the United States, ages 3 to 15. Families are encouraged to participate when the NHANES comes to your community. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has released “Highlights of the 2010 National Youth Gang Survey,” a fact sheet that discusses the prevalence of gangs and gang activity in the United States, as well as reasons for gang-member migration and external gang influences. Learn more (PDF, 4 pages).

On May 8, HHS will be sponsoring the second annual event in recognition of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month in Washington, DC. The event will include experts and program leaders speaking about the importance of engaging adolescent males in strategies to prevent teen pregnancies. Learn more and register.

The Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students is accepting applications for its FY2012 Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Programs Grant Competition. Grantees will establish or expand counseling programs in target elementary, K-12, or secondary schools. Applications are due May 25, 2012. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau’s National Resource Center for Youth Development will host a webinar on May 3, 2012 from 3:00PM-4:30PM ET to provide resources and information on obtaining credit reports for youth in foster care and strategies for remediation of negative credit items. Learn more and register.

As part of its Blue Campaign against human trafficking, the Department of Homeland Security has created a new human trafficking awareness online training to help professionals learn to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and how to report it. Learn more.

In a three-part series called “The Intern Chronicles,” the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is following Craig, a resident-turned-intern at a runaway and homeless youth program. Read Part One to learn about Craig’s on-the-job training and to see tips for youth workers on how to help youth prepare for summer jobs. Learn more.  Also, check out FindYouthInfo.gov’s youth topic on Youth Employment.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau has announced that it will hold the third National Child Welfare Evaluation Summit on August 12-14, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC. Learn more.

Two new reports from the Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse address the evidence behind methods that focus on developing the skills of children with disabilities, including milieu teaching and play-based interventions.

The Department of Education has released the 2012 application for the Promise Neighborhoods program which will provide funds for a new group of grants as well as continue support for existing implementation grantees. Promise Neighborhood funds are used to develop plans that will improve outcomes for students living in distressed neighborhoods. The deadline for intent to apply is June 8, 2012 and the deadline for applications is July 27, 2012. Learn more.

Together to Tomorrow, a joint initiative of the Department of Education, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and the Corporation for National and Community Service, has launched its School Improvement Challenge by asking schools, higher education institutions, and non-profits to submit plans to improve the neediest schools by raising four key student outcomes: attendance, behavior, course performance, and college access. Plans must be submitted by June 29, 2012. Learn more.

Registration is open for National Rural Education Technology Summit 2.0, to be held on April 30, 2012 from 12:00PM-6:00PM ET. This free virtual conference, which is sponsored by the Department of Education, will provide examples of how technology can be used to overcome the challenges of distance in rural education. Participants will see demonstrations of how to use technology in the classroom and for professional development. Learn more.

LaAntiDroga.com, created by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, contains Spanish-language resources with tips on how to talk to teens about drugs, and information on the consequences of drug use.

Sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Prevention Week will take place on May 20-26, 2012. National Prevention Week is an opportunity to learn about behavioral health issues and get involved in prevention efforts. On SAMHSA’s Facebook page, you can learn more about individual and community steps you can take as you observe National Prevention Week.

The Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has released three new publications to help communities meet the mental and behavioral health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system. Learn more.

The Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau has released, "Why Green is Your Color: A Woman's Guide to a Sustainable Career,” a publication designed to help women, including young women exploring career opportunities and newly entering the workforce, find and keep higher paying jobs in the clean energy economy. Learn more.

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, which is supported by the Department of Labor, features information on its website that answers the question, “What is an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)?” Readers can learn when an ILP is used, what information it contains, and how students can use ILPs to map interests and goals as they relate to future education and employment opportunities. Learn more.

Vice President Joe Biden spoke about the Violence Against Women Act and the Administration’s ongoing coordination to combat violence against women, as well as new steps the Administration is taking to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault. View the video here.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is requesting applications for its Multi-State Mentoring Initiative to enhance or expand initiatives that help communities develop or improve mentoring programs for at-risk or high-risk populations that are underserved due to location, shortage of mentors, or special physical or mental challenges of the targeted population. Applications are due May 16, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 24 pages).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is requesting applications for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention funding opportunity to support research and education around reducing childhood obesity. The application deadline is June 5, 2012. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is seeking applications for Second Chance Act Juvenile Offender Reentry Program for Demonstration Projects, which will provide services and programs to successfully reintegrate juvenile offenders as they return to their communities. Applications are due May 14, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 30 pages).

The Department of Justice’s Safe Start National Resource Center, which works to reduce the impact of children's exposure to violence, was honored as a 2011 AVA Gold Winner for its National Bullying Prevention Month blog series. View the series and visit the newly-enhanced StopBullying.gov for more information on bullying prevention.

To inform this year's update to Opening Doors, a comprehensive federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is soliciting public input on early childhood learning and educational outcomes for youth and children experiencing homelessness and broad strategies on unaccompanied youth. Learn more.

The Department of Labor announced the availability of approximately $12 million in grants to provide workforce development services for formerly incarcerated adults and youth who are making the transition back to their communities and families. Grantees must provide participants with services including job training, employment preparation, mentoring, assistance in connecting to supportive services, and assistance with parenting and child reunification. Applications are due May 4, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 39 pages).

The Department of Justice is featuring video on its website that includes the highlights from the week-long 2011 National Intertribal Youth Summit (NIYS), held last July in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This event was attended by more than 160 youth representing nearly 50 tribes. Learn more.

The Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics has developed web tables that reflect characteristics and degree completion times for undergraduate students who entered postsecondary education for the first time in 2003–04 and whose first degree attained by spring 2009 was an associate’s degree. Learn more.

On April 4, 2012, the White House recognized twelve leaders from across the Nation as “Champions of Change” for their work to prevent youth violence in their communities as part of the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. Learn more.

The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has released an advisory notice outlining the opportunities for the public workforce system to support the Summer Jobs + Initiative by providing jobs and/or soft skills or work skills training to youth. The ETA also released an advisory notice to encourage the use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds for youth summer employment opportunities. Lastly, the ETA also released an advisory notice to provide guidance to workforce investment area staff and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Program service providers to increase literacy and numeracy gains of out-of-school, basic skills-deficient youth and to further clarify reporting policies and requirements.

A report from the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, “Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: 1999-2000 and 2009-10,”presents findings from a congressionally mandated study on arts education in public elementary and secondary schools. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Technical Assistance Center has updated its Children and Youth Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series with an installment focusing on the reactions and mental health needs of children and youth after a disaster. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is accepting applications for its Field-Initiated Research and Evaluation Program solicitation, which will fund research and evaluation initiatives on education issues that relate to delinquency prevention, intervention, and prevention of child victimization. Applications are due May 7, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 21 pages).

The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime will award funds to document the characteristics of existing culturally responsive victim-centered restorative justice strategies and programs, with an emphasis on practices implemented in tribal and urban communities and practices involving youth. Applications are due May 8, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 19 pages).

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is seeking applications for funding to collect and maintain the nation’s primary source of detailed information on juvenile court case processing of delinquency and status offense cases. Applications are due May 7. Learn more (PDF, 20 pages).

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that nine states will receive funding to turn around their persistently lowest achieving schools through the School Improvement Grants program. Learn more.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 1 in 88 children in the United States has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder and more children are being diagnosed by age 3. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is soliciting applications to conduct research and evaluation studies to produce findings of use to practitioners, policymakers, and others in the development of effective programs and strategies for tribal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. Applications are due May 2, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 21 pages).

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration will award about $75 million in grants for YouthBuild programs, which provide education, job training, and employment services to youth as they give back to the community by building affordable housing. The application deadline is May 8, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 36 pages).

During National Nutrition Month, youth can take advantage of many online resources to learn about healthy eating and exercise habits. Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov to learn about making informed food choices and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Adolescent Health’s website to access resources on nutrition in adolescence.

On its website, the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth discusses the “three big lessons” about social media fundraising and how these lessons can help youth-serving nonprofits as they try to raise money. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring information on its website to guide youth serving organizations in helping unaccompanied youth apply for federal financial aid in order to attend college. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring a Q&A on its website with the coordinator of Fresno, California’s Safe Place program, one of the nation’s largest Safe Place networks. The Safe Place program is a national initiative that gives youth somewhere to get help when going home is not an option. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime invites applications for National Field-Generated Demonstration Projects. Grantees will develop or enhance promising practices and programs that build the capacity of the field to provide comprehensive services to adults and children who experience polyvictimization. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 19 pages).

“Cell Phone Smart,” a new public awareness campaign created by I Know Better and the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and funded by the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, aims to teach children and youth about cell phone safety and smart cell phone use. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will host the 5th National Conference on Behavioral Health for Women and Girls in San Diego, California on July 17-19, 2012. Program directors, clinicians, administrators, researchers, policy-makers, individuals in recovery, and students can attend to participate in dialogue about mental health and substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery for women and girls. Learn more.

The Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid is now providing high schools with current data about their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completions so they can better track students’ progress. Previously, schools had to rely on self-reported surveys to track completion. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare is offering three free online tutorials that focus on substance abuse and child welfare and supporting collaboration between the child welfare, substance abuse, and court systems. Learn more.

This video from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW), “Bringing Families Together: Models of Hope Recovery,” features The 10-Element Framework: Elements of System Linkages, developed by the NCSACW to help states, tribal, and local communities facilitate effective partnerships between child serving systems. Watch the video.

The White House Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Conference on Safe Schools & Communities, hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement and the U.S. Department of Justice in partnership with the University of Texas at Arlington, will be held in Arlington, Texas on March 20, 2012. Speakers will include Attorney General Eric Holder and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. Learn more.

Attorney General Eric Holder’s Defending Childhood Initiative has launched a new web page, “Take Action to Protect Children,” that provides resources to support professionals in their efforts to address children’s exposure to violence. View the web page.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring a Q&A on its website with a representative from the Department of Housing and Urban Development that explains how the new federal rule, “Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity,” will benefit youth. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring a podcast on its website in which Forrest Vest, a formerly homeless youth, discusses how he is working with a family friend to start a new foundation and how youth can be powerful advocates for change. Listen to the podcast.

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, which is supported by the Department of Labor, features information on its website that answers the question, “What is an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)?” Readers can learn when an ILP is used, what information it contains, and how students can use ILPs to map interests and goals as they relate to future education and employment opportunities. Learn more.

In preparation for Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 9, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is providing resources that individuals can use to plan their involvement in community activities. SAMHSA is encouraging people to use the Twitter hashtag #HeroesofHope when tweeting about Awareness Day. Learn more.

On March 21 from 3:00PM-4:15PM ET, the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, which is a service of the Children’s Bureau, will present a webinar, “Improving Supervision by Collaboration, Transparency, and Accountability: The Impact of Missouri’s Supervision Advisory Committee (SAC).” This webinar will highlight the work of the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Children’s Division in enhancing effective supervision of frontline child welfare staff. Learn more and register.

The Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice is soliciting proposals for the Longitudinal Data on Teen Dating Violence: Postdoctoral Fellowship. Applications are due April 24, 2012. Learn more and apply (PDF, 21 pages).

The Department of Labor announced the availability of grants through its Training and Service Learning program for projects to help young adult ex-offenders gain job skills while giving back to their communities through service. Applications are due April 17, 2012. Learn more. 

On March 20, 2012 from 3:00PM-4:00PM ET, experts from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Anti-Defamation League will present a live chat about bullying prevention on Twitter Live Chat. The main Twitter feed to follow during the chat is http://twitter.com/CDCInjury, using the #VetoViolence hashtag. To learn more about bullying, visit StopBullying.gov.

The Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau has released, "Why Green is Your Color: A Woman's Guide to a Sustainable Career,” a publication designed to help women, including young women exploring career opportunities and newly entering the workforce, find and keep higher paying jobs in the clean energy economy. Learn more.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has issued a final rule implementing the YouthBuild Transfer Act of 2006, which includes expanding the occupational skills training available to YouthBuild participants to non-construction industries and also clarifies how students will allocate their time while in the program. Learn more. 

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention joined with other partners to host the second annual National Mentoring Summit in Washington, DC on January 24-25, 2012. The summit brought together youth mentoring organizations and leaders to review best practices and research and discuss the future of the field. Learn more.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is providing coping resources on its blog in the wake of the Chardon High School shooting in Ohio. The blog entry provides a hotline number that individuals can call or text for disaster and trauma crisis counseling. Learn more.

The Corporation for National and Community Service's Social Innovation Fund plans to award a total of $10-15 million to up to six intermediaries. Grantees will then match the funding they receive. Applications are due March 27, 2012. Learn more and apply.

As part of its “Data Sharing and Privacy Protection in Youth Programs” webinar series, the Solutions Desk, which is a service of the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs, will present a webinar, “Identifying, Sorting Through, and Integrating Data from Multiple Sources,” on March 21, 2:30PM-4:00PM EST. This webinar will focus on using data that is already accessible across multiple agencies and establishing a team approach to the analysis and sharing of data. Register.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering regional workshops to help participants begin a youth preparedness program or incorporate related information into an existing program. Workshops will be held in four cities between February and July. For more information email FEMA’s Youth Director and visit the Citizen Corps website.

The Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics and the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics have issued the new report, “Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2011.” This report examines crimes occurring in school and presents data on school safety. View the report.

In the latest installment of Youth Speak Out, the National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring a podcast in which two youth leaders explain how they teach middle schoolers to analyze the lyrics in pop songs and think about relationship health. Listen to the podcast.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring a Q&A on its website about how youth workers can help young people who have come to the United States illegally, are without a guardian, and may have found themselves in immigration court. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice is seeking applicants to conduct research on issues related to violence against women for the Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women: Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Teen Dating Violence solicitation. Applications are due April 26, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 20 pages).

Multiple federal agencies will present a webinar, “Teen Dating Violence Intervention and Prevention: A Look at Dating Matters and Shifting Boundaries,” on February 29, 2012 from 2:00PM–3:30PM EST. This webinar will feature an overview of teen dating violence, teen dating violence prevention initiatives, and results of an experimental evaluation of a teen dating violence prevention program in New York City. Learn more.

On February 28 from 3:00PM–4:30PM EST, the Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students and the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center will present a webinar, “The Role of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) in School Preparedness.” Learn more and register.

A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reveals that nearly half of all substance abuse treatment admissions involving college students were primarily related to alcohol disorders. The rate of admission for alcohol-related issues is far higher among college students than for non-college students in the same age bracket. Learn more.

In preparation for Spring Break, the State Department is providing students with tips to be smart and safe as they vacation. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has created the new National Girls Institute website. The website will function as a resource to help meet the needs of agencies and organizations that serve at-risk and delinquent girls, as well as the girls themselves. Users can request training and technical assistance and access information about best practices, tools, research, and events. Learn more.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s The Missing and Exploited Children’s Program will hold a webinar, “Reporting Child Sexual Abuse,” on February 23 from 2:00PM-3:00PM EST. Participants will learn about the processes for reporting child sexual abuse, the information needed to make a report, and how investigations are conducted once a report is filed. Learn more and register.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supports the National Association for Children of Alcoholics during its Children of Alcoholics (COA) Week. COA Week celebrates the recovery of children who have suffered pain and loss as a result of parental alcohol and drug addiction. Learn more.

The National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth is featuring an interview on its website that educates readers about the effect that trauma can have on teen brain development. Research suggests that the brains of teens who experience homelessness or abuse can develop differently than the brains of their peers who grow up in safe and supportive homes. Learn more.

The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration report, “Innovative Programs and Promising Practices: Indian and Native American Summer Youth Employment Initiatives and the 2009 Recovery Act,” describes the creation of the Indian and Native American Summer Youth Employment Initiative and how grantees used their Recovery Act funds to implement programs. Learn more.

On January 30, the Department of Educationpublished a Request for Information on the Federal Register inviting colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, states, researchers, and others to provide the Department with information about promising strategies, practices, and programs for improving postsecondary success. Responses can be submitted until April 30, 2012. Learn more (PDF, 4 pages).

The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration report, “Using TANF Funds to Support Subsidized Youth Employment: The 2010 Summer Youth Employment Initiative,” examines data collected across seven states describing the partnerships between state and local TANF and workforce agencies and the youth employment initiatives that TANF funding supported. Learn more.

During the month of February, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) will tweet about teen dating violence statistics, resources, and promising prevention practices using the #TDVAM hashtag. Learn more about National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

February 6-10 is National School Counseling Week. To kick off the week, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan spoke at the American School Counselor Association's annual gala. Learn more.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Substance Abuse Prevention are accepting applications for Drug Free Communities Support Program grants, which aim to support community coalitions working to prevent youth substance abuse. Applications are due March 22, 2012. Learn more and apply.

Through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the United States Department of Agriculture is making the first major changes in school meals in 15 years. Learn more.

The Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has updated the "frequently asked questions" section of its Statistical Briefing Book. This section provides answers to some commonly asked questions about juvenile justice. View the section.

MilitaryKidsConnect.org, a Department of Defense-sponsored website, features content for children, tweens, and teens of military families. The site provides an online community that allows these young people to support one another while learning coping and resilience-building skills. Visit the site.

The Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has published the first issue of the Journal of Juvenile Justice. Read the issue.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is currently soliciting state implementation grants for the Systems of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs grant program. This program aims to improve access to quality care for children and youth with special health care needs. Applications are due March 1, 2012. Learn more and apply.

The Department of Education has announced that the FAFSA Completion Project, a pilot project that aims to increase the number of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), will expand to include 92 additional school districts. Applications for the pilot project are due March 2, 2012. Learn more and apply.

During the last ten days in January, volunteers across the country counted the number of people, including youth and families, experiencing homelessness on streets and in shelters. This data will be used to understand the scope of homelessness and to measure progress toward ending it. 2012 data will be released later this year. View the 2011 data.

The Department of Transportation has released a video of an interview with a mother whose teen daughter died as a result of distracted driving. Watch the video and learn more about teen driver safety on www.FindYouthInfo.gov.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau is partnering with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) for 2012’s No Name-Calling Week during the week of January 23-27. No Name-Calling Week aims to end name-calling of all kinds and to launch an ongoing dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying. Learn more. For more information about how to prevent and address bullying, go to www.StopBullying.gov.

As part of its Implementing and Sustaining Evidence-Based Practice Speaker Series, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network will present a webinar, “Methods Development in Dissemination & Implementation: Implications for Implementing and Sustaining Interventions in Child Welfare and Child Mental Health Service Systems,” on February 22, 2012 at 12:00PM EST. The goal of the webinar is to increase understanding of issues arising from the use of evidence-based practices within child welfare and mental health organizations. Register.

A new guide released by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, “Birth Parents and Trauma Histories in the Child Welfare System: A Guide for Resource Parents,” aims to help resource, or foster, parents to better understand the birth parents with whom they work. View the guide (4 pages, PDF).

In an interview with the National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth, Kim Klein, an Oakland, CA fundraising consultant, shares five resolutions youth-serving nonprofits should make in 2012 to help them increase the amount of money they raise from donors. Read the interview.