We believe that all children and youth deserve a chance to become healthy, happy, and productive adults. Yet in even the best of circumstances and with supportive families, young people face many challenges as they grow up. For young people without the safety net of a stable family, with physical and mental health problems, and without access to needed services, this task becomes even more difficult.

Therefore, we take a whole child view in our work. We believe that it takes:

• a sustained effort over the whole life of the child -- in the early years, the middle years, and through adolescence;
• a sustained effort with the whole family system -- the child, siblings, biological parents, and other adults in the child's life; and
• a sustained effort with the whole array of public systems that serve children and families -- including child welfare, education, and juvenile justice.

These beliefs drive our efforts to support public policies that will sustain children and their families over the long-term and through all stages of their lives. Our current area of particular interest, however, is on the difficult adolescent years for the most vulnerable youth -- those who face additional obstacles on the road to adulthood.

Because we also believe in the power of individuals to make a difference, we have chosen to address the challenges facing children and their families by supporting the work of individuals through our Fellowship Program.