Youth Resources

Youth Resources

Youth Resources
  • NJ’s 24 hour youth helpline: 2NDFLOOR
    The 2NDFLOOR helpline gives young people a place to turn to before violence or tragedy occurs. Youth may call about anything, anytime, anywhere. The helpline is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week to youth ages 10-24. Call the helpline at 1-888-222-2228 or access the interactive Web site at www.2NDFLOOR.org. Youth can call to talk through any challenges they might be facing - whether the issue is substance abuse, domestic violence, self-esteem, eating disorders, family conflict, racism, bullying, gangs or peer pressure. Calls to the 2NDFLOOR youth helpline are anonymous and confidential except in life-threatening situations.

  • The Club Just for Foster Kids
    FosterClub's mission is to provide encouragement, motivation, information, education, and benefits for foster youth. Through their web sites, kids are asking questions and getting answers. You can discover successful former foster youth through the "Reach for the Stars" program, send in opinions about your foster care experience, get recognition for overcoming obstacles, enter the contests (where everyone wins!), and more. Their publications give you tools to help anticipate and succeed. Their events give youth an opportunity to get involved and grow.

  • Teens Health
    The site was created for teens looking for honest, accurate information and advice about health, relationships, and growing up. They offer a safe, private place that's accessible 24 hours a day to get the doctor-approved info you need to understand the changes that you (or your friends) may be going through - and to make educated decisions about your life. Their mission is to tell it to you straight.

  • Teen Resource Bureau
    The NEFE Teen Resource Bureau Web site is here to tell you the facts, myths, and lies that surround money. This site was designed by a few twenty-somethings and a select group of teenagers to help you determine the best way to handle money, buy a car, pay for college, and more.

  • The Global Youth ACTION Network
    The Youthlink website serves as the Internet-based communication hub for the voice, ideas, and conclusions of contemporary young people.

  • Youth Build
    YouthBuild USA is a national nonprofit organization that works to unleash the positive energy of low-income young people to rebuild their communities and their lives. It supports an expanding nationwide network of more than 200 local YouthBuild programs. In this role, YouthBuild USA orchestrates advocacy for public funding; guidance and quality assurance in program implementation; leadership opportunities for youth and staff; research to understand best practices; and grants and loans to YouthBuild affiliates.

  • NJ Bar Association – Student's Corner
    The state's bar association provides information on conflict resolution, tolerance, bullying, and various legal resources.

  • Youth Advocacy Center
    YAC's mission is to teach young adults in and at risk of foster care to advocate for themselves and take control of their lives. Teens in and at risk of foster care have the desire, talents and potential to be participating citizens - to hold jobs, to play a role in their community, to live in safe neighborhoods and to raise their children to be educated and healthy.

  • Headroom
    Part of the Partnership with Young People Project, Headroom focuses on young people's mental health issues with different sections for youth (created by youth), professionals and service providers, and family and friends.

  • In the Mix
    Provides a chance for youth to interact regarding their opinions and reactions to the television shows In the Mix presents, which include issues such as substance abuse, school violence and depression.

  • Mental Health Promotion Created Networking Youth Nationally,
    a forum for communication that allows young people to openly discuss their mental health issues with each other and with those who care and work with youth.

  • Youth Communication
    Produces magazines written and illustrated by youth, which focus on the general interest of youth and foster care.

  • Community Partnerships with Youth, Inc.
    Provides curriculum materials for adults to help enhance their efforts with youth.

  • National Network for Youth
    Publishes the Policy Reporter which reports on and analyzes current legislation, federal policy and other decisions that impact services to youth, and Network News - a quarterly publication that provides updates on youth issues from a national perspective and features a column written by youth, an issues forum, legislative updates and listings of resources.

  • National Youth Development Information Center (NYDIC)
    Youth development publications including a newsletter that is published 6 times a year.

  • National Youth in Care Network
    Publishes the Networker, written by and for youth who are or have been in foster care, and includes articles about local groups.

  • The Center for Youth Development and Policy Research
    Their project, Community YouthMapping involves young people identifying and documenting information about resources in their communities.

  • National Youth Development Information Center
    Has conducted several surveys to determine the most immediate information needs of youth development agencies. In its current phase, NYDIC will concentrate on collecting and disseminating materials about these priority areas.

  • Youth on Board
    Create focus groups that hear youth's opinions on what constitutes healthy relationships with adults in partnership with Wellesley College.

  • The American Friends Service Committee
    Provides training, workshops, and youth institutes to help prepare youth for vital leadership roles within their communities.

  • Latin American Youth Center
    Youth workers formed the LatiNegro Theater Collective. Provides ways for youth to express their feelings and educate their peers on issues of race relations from Latino and black perspectives.

  • Youth Communication/Foster Care
    Youth United produces magazines, written and illustrated by youth, which focus on the general interests of youth in foster care.

  • The McCreary Centre Society
    The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) provides a "youth-friendly" forum for youth to develop skills they need to participate, as well as provide the opportunity to make real contributions.

  • Ability Online
    Electronic mail system connecting young people with a disability or chronic illness to disabled and non-disabled peers and mentors.

  • Adolescent Health Transition Project
    Helps adolescents with special health care needs smooth the transition from pediatric to adult health care.

  • Band-Aides & Blackboards
    Presents stories with a goal to help children and youth understand what it's like to grow up with a medical problem and consists of interactive pages that sensitize children to the issues that accompany illness.

  • Hangout NJ - State of NJ Website for Kids
    Hangout NJ was created by the State of New Jersey specifically with children in mind. The Web site contains content, graphics, games, and activities that will simultaneously inform and entertain kids. The site also provides links to state government information.