introducing
The YTFG Well-being Framework
Presents a narrative exploration of the role and responsibility of each youth-serving system to support the well-being and well-becoming of youth and young adults
Highlights the critical relationship between racial justice and well-being
Introduces an updated framework across five key domains, highlighting the roles and responsibilities of families, communities, private sector partners, and public systems
Offers a set of concrete and actionable recommendations for youth-serving system leaders, policymakers, and public and private funders for improving policy and practice to support the well-being and well-becoming of young people throughout adolescence and into adulthood.
Older adolescence and emerging adulthood are pivotal periods of growth and development
During this time frame, young people experience distinct developmental milestones that are critical for becoming healthy, connected, and productive adults.
The Five Well-being Domains
Physical Health and Safety:
All young people should have the opportunity and supports — through family, community, and public systems — to maximize their physical health, strength, and functioning, be physically safe and free from violence, abuse, and neglect and have basic needs met.
Cognitive and Mental Health:
All young people should have the opportunity and supports — through family, community, and public systems — to experience continuous cognitive health and intellectual growth and to optimize mental health, managing any mental health issues as they arise.
Social and Emotional Well-Being:
All young people should have the opportunity and social supports — from family, community, and public systems — to cultivate a strong and resilient self-identity and supportive and nurturing relationships.
Economic Well-Being:
All young people should have the opportunity and supports — through families, community, the private sector, and public systems — to obtain the learning and work opportunities needed to experience economic security and advancement and to accrue the financial and social capital needed to afford and access quality education, employment, and housing.
Racial and Ethnic Equity:
All young people should have the opportunity — through family, community, and public systems — to be treated with fairness and respect, have equitable access to opportunity, and have their wellness not determined by race or ethnicity.
Recommendations
To Improve the Well-Being of Youth and Young Adults
Support and elevate the leadership of young people and their families.
Actively and intentionally design and implement anti-racist strategies to mitigate the impacts of racial injustice on young people and to build a more just society.
Deconstruct harmful policies and practices that are inconsistent and incompatible with well-being.
Reorient and transform youthserving systems toward well-being and racial justice.
Create policies and practices that promote youth wellness and invest in essential supports for well-being and well-becoming.
Create and invest in policies and practices that include employers as essential partners in offering economic opportunities and providing employment supports to young people.
Identify and customize support for vulnerable youth populations within youth-serving systems, and engage in intentional and meaningful crosssystems alignment, investment, and coordination to build on their unique strengths and address their diverse needs.
Invest in ongoing research and evaluation.
Develop effective financing and other investment strategies to support the implementation of well-being and well-becoming recommendations.
THE FRAMEWORK: AN OVERVIEW
Get an introduction to the YTFG Well-Being Framework, along with featured reflections on well-being investment strategies from YTFG members, including:
Lyman Legters, Senior Director, Strategic Consulting, Casey Family Programs
Amy Price, Zellerbach Family Foundation
Matt Cervantes, Director of Health Programs, Sierra Health Foundation
Amanda Shabowich, YTFG Fellow, Launch Project Director, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
let’s CONNECT!
Have questions about how to use the YTFG Well-Being Framework? Want to tell us how you have used the Framework to help guide development of systems, policies or funding that supports youth and young adults? Use this form to submit your questions or stories directly to the YTFG Consulting Team.