SCFPP is among the sponsors of a National Academies of Science and Engineering Forum on Children’s Wellbeing, and I am your representative.
The Forum held a virtual workshop on May 5, “Flourishing in Adolescence.” The workshop opened with highlights of three recent National Academies reports, “The Promise of Adolescenceopens in new window,” “Promoting Positive Adolescent Health Behaviors and Outcomesopens in new window,” and “Fostering Youth’s Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Developmentopens in new window.” The heart of the workshop, however, was a review of best practices for the inclusion of youth voices in work on behalf of adolescents. Leaders from the Detroit Flutter Foundation, Family Voices as Self-Advocates (YASA), the Mentor Foundation, Autism Speaks Advocacy Ambassador Program, National Organizations for Youth Safety, and Youth Thrive participated. Subsequently, Forum members discussed sustainable and impactful ways to include youth voices in the work of the Forum going forward. (There is already a steady family voice on the Forum from the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health.)
Updates on any new Forum activities will be provided in each newsletter. However, if at any time members have suggestions, please feel free to contact me.