Strategies for Youth

Professional Training and CoachingMassachusetts, United States11-50 Employees

Strategies for Youth is the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to improving outcomes when youth encounter law enforcement. We ensure law enforcement is trained in adolescent development, trauma-informed crisis response, and equitable responses.

What We Do:
Law Enforcement Training: Policing the Teen Brain™ (IADLEST‑certified, 2–4 day) blends cutting-edge neuroscience and psychiatric insights into hands‑on communication and de-escalation tactics for patrol officers and school resource officers, offered across 28+ states.

Youth Education & Engagement: Our interactive Juvenile Justice Jeopardy games teach youth their legal rights and obligations and strategies to navigate authority and peer dynamics safely.

Policy & Advocacy: SFY works with law enforcement agencies to consider adoption and adaption of our 12 Model Law Enforcement Policies to support developmentally aware, trauma-informed, and equitable policing practices. Backed by research, stakeholder-reviewed, and designed use at the federal, state and local levels.


Our Impact:
SFY's integrated approach has led to documented reductions in juvenile arrests, improved public safety, and more equitable policing outcomes.

Our work has been featured in Newsweek, NPR, The Hill, USA Today, Juvenile Justice Update, and other local, state, and national publications.

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