The specific purpose of this corporation is to support the needs of disadvantaged children, youth and families through education, research and community-based activities.

Mental Health , Substance Abuse Dependency, Prevention & Treatment

In 2017, youth forward conducted a series of educational activities to help individual community members, policymakers and nonprofit organizations gain a better understanding of the health effects of marijuana use, the history of criminalization of marijuana and its impact on communities of color, the current status of the implementation of proposition 64 and concerns related to young people. In many cases these activities were conducted through a partnership with two other nonprofits: the california urban partnership and public health advocates. In addition, youth forwards executive director met with several representatives of private philanthropy, including health care foundations, in order to educate them about prop 64 implementation, health equity and health effects of marijuana use related to youth. In sacramento, where the organization is based, the organization partnered with the california urban partnership to hold 8 meetings of nonprofit leaders and community residents to discuss issues related to the local marijuana industry and issues related to racial and health equity. Through outreach, youth forward connected with leaders of nonprofit, youth-serving organizations in the following communities: sacramento, stockton, merced, san diego, los angeles, oakland, monterey county, humboldt, and the inland empire. In addition to the work on marijuana and youth issues, youth forward assisted the childrens network of solano county in the development of a youth policy council, provided consulting support to education trust-west in the area of parent engagement strategies and supported brown issues forum, a latino high school organization, in the planning for a summer leadership camp.