Comprehensive statewide approach to improve youth outcomes: experience of the New York State Youth Development Team.

Best practice research indicates a need for a policy shift toward positive youth development (YD) principles and strategies. The New York State Youth Development Team (YDT) is a public-private partnership of leading agencies whose holistic vision, "families, schools and communities partner to support the development of healthy, capable and caring youth," requires key stakeholders at all levels to address adverse youth health outcomes through effective partnerships. To transform the YDT vision into statewide practice requires committed actions (policy, funding, and training) at the state and community levels. Key lessons learned and experience-based recommendations that guide YD efforts in New York State can help state and local agencies move more to a positive YD approach that helps young people become healthy, caring, competent, and contributing adults, fully prepared to be parents, workers, leaders, entrepreneurs, and citizens of the future.