Indiana Youth Institute exists to improve the lives of all Indiana children.

We provide critical data, capacity-building resources and innovative training for people and organizations that impact the healthy development of Indiana’s children and youth. We facilitate collaboration and promote problem-solving and collective advocacy on a statewide scale.

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Indiana ranks 29th for child well-being

The 2019 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, indicates many positive gains for Hoosier youth along with areas of focus to ensure all children thrive.

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Insights from the Field

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Our Areas of Focus

  • family

    Family & Community

    Children prosper in safe, stable, nurturing environments. Family challenges such as substance abuse, incarceration, lack of resources and family instability affect children’s well-being. Maltreatment, exposure to violence, and traumatic stress put children’s safety at risk. Safe communities with strong institutions, quality education, and support services provide the conditions for families and children to thrive.

  • donate

    Economic Well-Being

    When parents do better economically, their children do better. Parents need secure employment, well-paying jobs, and affordable housing to ensure their children thrive and prosper. When parents are unemployed or have barriers to sustaining living wage employment, their ability to invest in their children’s development is limited. These experiences of economic insecurity or poverty have lasting effects on children’s well-being, available opportunities and later economic success.

  • graduate

    Education

    Children thrive when they have access to high-quality education from preschool through grade 12. Establishing the conditions that promote educational success sets students on track to graduate, pursue postsecondary training and education, and successfully transition to adulthood. High-quality early childhood education, math and reading proficiency and school engagement contribute to college and career readiness.

  • giving

    Health

    Health is foundational for child well-being. Physical and mental health in childhood impacts other critical aspects of a child’s life, including school attendance and performance. Substance abuse, lack of health care, inadequate insurance, and poor health habits put children’s current and future health at risk.