IYI: Empowering Opportunity Youth: Reshaping Futures Together – Indiana (VIRTUAL)

According to the 2021 Indiana Kids Count Data Book, there are 90,200 youth between the ages of 16 and 24 that are neither working nor in school. Better known as ‘opportunity youth,’ this population of young adults tend to fall within marginalized populations at a higher rate than they otherwise represent in the general population. Join this session to learn about the data, the disparities, and how to best serve opportunity youth through your school, program, and community. In this session, we will discuss current federal and statewide policies and programs aimed at addressing the needs of opportunity youth, and explore advocacy efforts and initiatives designed to support this demographic. Additionally, we will discuss how to establish support networks that cater to the unique needs and strengths of opportunity youth.

Learning Objectives:

• Disparity Awareness: Recognize and address disparities impacting opportunity youth, especially marginalized populations.
• Inclusive Environments: Develop strategies for creating inclusive spaces in schools, programs, and communities.
• Support Network Building: Acquire skills to establish robust support networks for opportunity youth.
• Advocacy and Policy Engagement: Understand current policies, programs, and advocacy efforts that benefit opportunity youth and their communities