How can we help young people - especially those from low-income backgrounds–improve their life prospects? To help answer that question for anyone who designs, administers, or funds services for youth, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation recently supported Child Trends to examine what works in youth programs. Child Trends also compiled information on the kinds of outcomes that communities can strive to achieve and maintain for young people. These tools, which are described below, can be accessed on the Child Trends website by visiting Research Tools To Improve Youth Development. There are two parts to this database:

Programs for Teens section summarizes the best available program evaluations to determine what works, what doesn't work, and what are some "good bets" (or promising practices). Through the interactive What Works tables, readers will be able to identify youth outcomes which either have, or have not, been positively affected through youth programs using various approaches.

Outcomes for Teens section discusses more than 25 major outcomes (in educational achievement, health and safety, social and emotional well-being, and self-sufficiency) that programs and communities can seek to affect in the lives of youth with their services.