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findyouthinfo.gov

Under the George W. Bush Administration, findyouthinfo.gov acted as a sort of clearinghouse for information on community and state programs that work with youth. There is even an interagency working group on youth programs. It's not clear how this working group operates or if it even has members that are young folks.

One issue with this site is that it conflates youth and children. FM has argued that children already have a host of lobbying, advocacy, and practitioner organizations in existence. This site seems promising, however, and if the Obama Administration chooses not to appoint a youth liaison --or if it does-- then expanding and refining findyouthinfo.gov would be a great asset for information on grants, non-profits that work with youth and programs executed by federal agencies.

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January 29th, 2009 3:08pm
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Who Knows?

Submitted by Michael Connery on Thu, 2009-01-29 15:42.

It seems like the problem with this kind of sight is that no one knows it exists. This is the first I've ever heard of it. I wonder how many other similar government agencies have "youth" pages and if there isn't some way for us to intelligently catalogue and work with the adminstration to make them better, or work with a youth liaison to rethink the way the government relates to young people online.

I have to agree w/r/t your comment on children. My fear truly is that whatever "youth" policies come out of the administraiton will be aimed at children - a politically popular demographic to serve - or will focus disproportionately on service and education.

Outsourcing the site?

Submitted by karlomarcelo on Thu, 2009-01-29 16:25.

I'm not sure if it's feasible, but perhaps a coalition of youth organizations should pitch the Obama Administration to essentially takeover this "youth" site. This could happen by moving the site from the government realm to the public realm or by employing youth activists to manage this site/department as federal employees. Also, it seems that site could use a platform that better incorporates user-generated content. - kbm

youth.gov

Submitted by Joshua Gorman on Thu, 2009-01-29 18:21.

For those actively working with or for federal youth programs, this site and the working group have been known. For the broad public, and even the broad youth-serving AND youth community, it feels safe to safe that it's been unknown.

The branding itself "FindYouthInfo.gov" is pretty ironic, and is definitely lacking in creativity. Why not just "youth.gov"?

It serves its purpose though, even if it is lacking. I think the question is how can its purpose be expanded, include more young people, and as you named, utilize 21st century technology to allow user-generated content.

Regarding the 'children & youth' debate...it's all strategy, and it's mostly successful, and from my own inquiries of late, I don't see these two being separated, which means the age groups within this framing (like 18 - 29) need to lobby loudly and compellingly like the rest of them.

The people involved in proposing the White House Office for Children and Youth and the Federal Youth Coordination Act are the likely successors to this site.

I am in contact with the

Submitted by thaddeusferber on Thu, 2009-02-05 18:30.

I am in contact with the people in the Federal government who are behind the site, and would be delighted to pass on any and all suggestions (the more concrete and specific, the better!)

Feel free to contact me with thoughts, ideas, etc.

thaddeus at forumfyi.org