The Youth First Model

This report, funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, shares findings from an evaluation of Youth First’s work, exploring what it takes to truly grow the capacity of state-based advocacy groups and organizers from the perspective of state campaigns, national partners, and Youth First team members. These findings provide a structure for other organizations seeking an effective model of capacity building to transform youth justice and make change on other issues in their communities, outlining Youth First’s strategies at the state and national levels and their overall style of partnership, including (1) setting the stage and doing the groundwork to make campaigns feasible, (2) building trusting relationships, (3) following the lead of campaigns, (4) serving as a go-to hub of knowledge and resources, (4) tailoring support unique to each campaign, and (5) creating cohesion across stakeholders.