Issues We Focus On:

Career Development: To provide guidance on the life-long process with age and stage appropriate strategies that should be employed by the professionals engaged in each particular stage of development.

Cross Systems Collaboration: To recognize and facilitate the diverse and often complex needs of youth who are transitioning to adulthood cannot be met by any one institution or service system alone.

Education: To promote the practices and policies that increase access for all youth, including youth with disabilities, to a high quality secondary education and clear pathways into and through postsecondary education.

Families: To empower parents and families in supporting their youth and young adults as they prepare to enter adulthood. Families play an important role in helping youth envision and build a future for themselves that is rooted in high expectations and thoughtful planning.

Transition: To cultivate awareness of what all youth ages 12 to 25, including youth with disabilities, need to successfully transition to employment, postsecondary education, and independent living.

Professional Development: To train youth service professionals to acquire competencies to support adolescents and young adults as they  transition from school to adult life and the world of work.

Workforce Development: To strengthen the capacity of the workforce development system to provide quality services to all youth and young adults, including youth and young adults with disabilities.

Youth Development & Leadership: To prepare young people to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood through a coordinated, progressive series of activities and experiences which help them gain skills and competencies.