Think back to when you were young.

Can you remember a moment when an adult truly listened to you, took your opinion seriously, and made you feel like your voice mattered?

Many of us don’t have those memories—at least, not until much later in life. But for a child who hears, “You are an expert in your own life. Your voice matters,” the impact can be profound.

When young people are empowered early, they grow into engaged, informed adults who shape the world with confidence.

That’s exactly what UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Cities Initiative is working toward.

We often focus on addressing problems after they’ve occurred in the nonprofit and social sector, but what if we could intervene earlier?

After 30 years of research in prevention science, the evidence is clear: many behavioral health issues and related challenges can be prevented.

I’m joined by Mitchell Moore, an advanced certified prevention specialist, to discuss the power of early intervention in preventing behavioral health problems—specifically in the context of youth and families.

Trauma and resilience are being talked about more in helping professions, yet what’s often overlooked is how human service organizations can become more trauma-informed and resilient.

Is another trauma training really the answer, or is there something deeper that needs to shift within organizations themselves?

What if the key to improving educational outcomes was already in front of us, hidden in the data schools collect every day?

Attendance records, test scores, and family surveys offer insight into equity gaps, systemic barriers, and opportunities for intervention—but too often, this data isn’t used effectively.

In this episode, we’ll discuss how nonprofit professionals can collaborate with schools to analyze and apply data in ways that close gaps in access and achievement.

Young people are facing an epidemic of loneliness. Despite being the most connected generation, students still feel isolated, disconnected, and uncertain.

This lack of connection impacts many areas of their lives—from school attendance and graduation rates to risky behaviors that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

For 35 years, Right Moves for Youth has been tackling this issue head-on.

Through weekly group meetings led by staff, school resource officers, and sometimes community volunteers, Right Moves provides teens with the opportunity to connect, build relationships, and gain the support they need to overcome life’s challenges.

If you work with youth, especially in mental health and substance use, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is an invaluable resource.

This survey collects data from students in grades 9–12, revealing key health behaviors and experiences that significantly impact adolescent health.

When you understand these trends, you’ll get a clearer picture of what young people are facing, which makes it easier to create programs that address their specific needs.

Organizations find themselves asking similar questions when it comes to conducting a needs assessment: Where can I find reliable data? How do I know if it’s relevant to my community? Is the information up to date?

These are important concerns. Accessing meaningful data can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to make it applicable to the specific work you’re doing.

Today, we address these questions by giving you an overview of one key data source: the Kids Count Data Book, which provides state and county-level indicators on child and family well-being.