youthcentered

Youth-centered, sometimes written as youth-centered or youthcentered, refers to an approach in policy, program design, and research that places young people’s needs, rights, and agency at the center of planning and delivery. The approach treats youth not as passive recipients but as active participants whose experiences shape services and outcomes. It encompasses both the design of interventions and the governance structures that implement them.

Ideally, youth-centered practice rests on principles such as participation, empowerment, inclusivity, accessibility, safety, and a rights-based orientation. Programs are co-designed with young people, use youth-friendly language, and create formal channels for youth input, leadership opportunities, and ongoing feedback. Data collection and evaluation involve youth voices to adapt strategies and measure impact.

Applications occur across education, health promotion, social services, community development, and digital platforms. Examples include youth advisory boards, co-created curricula, youth-led research, and peer-led support networks. While evidence on outcomes is context dependent, proponents report improvements in engagement, relevance, skill development, and program sustainability when youth are meaningfully involved.

Challenges include ensuring representative participation, avoiding tokenism, safeguarding and ethical considerations, and balancing resource constraints with meaningful involvement. Implementers must provide training for staff, establish clear governance and accountability, and maintain transparent reporting to verify that youth perspectives influence decisions.