Growing up to be a healthy and capable adult is more complicated than ever. That's why demand for highly skilled child and youth service professionals is at an all-time high.

Rather than keeping up with demand, however, the field is experiencing a critical shortage.

ProYouthWork America’s mission is to build and sustain a child and youth services workforce for the 21st century through three interconnected strategies: growing the workforce; improving workforce quality, effectiveness and sustainability; and promoting public policy changes that support both workers and youth.

Each of our founders brings more than 25 years of experience providing training and technical assistance services to child- and youth-service agencies nationwide. PYWA’s consortium of policy and practice leaders address a multiplicity of issues that impact children, youth and families, including education, employment, diversity and tolerance, religion, housing, health, substance abuse prevention and treatment, homelessness, federal funding, family and care policy, emerging technologies, geographical/social inequalities, and governance.