DC Youth and Young Adult Update 11-14-25

By Cailee Fitzgerald | November 14, 2025

News at NYEC: 

  • NYEC Youth Days 2025 Recap! From November 5-7 NYEC welcomed 130 workforce practitioners, community and organization leaders, and young people to Washington, D.C. to bring a voice for opportunity youth to Congress. 27 teams of attendees met with 83 Congressional offices, advocating for federal funding for our programs and necessary policy changes. Thank you to all who participated this year, we’re excited to see you again next Youth Days! 
  • Join NYEC in Houston, TX for Rooted in Action: 2026 Annual Forum! The National Youth Employment Coalition will head to Houston, TX from March 30 – April 1, 2026 for our annual convening of 450+ direct service providers, practitioners, community leaders, employers, and young adults. Across three days, participants will cultivate connections; share innovative strategies, proven practices, and community-driven solutions; and explore how collective strength, perseverance, and action can drive meaningful, systemic change. Join us as we work together to increase opportunity and improve education and employment outcomes for all young people! 
  • Submit a proposal to present at the Annual Forum! We’re looking for sessions that offer practical tools, real-world examples, and bold ideas for strengthening opportunities for young people and the systems that support them. Proposals with multiple speakers (including panels) are highly encouraged! Learn more HERE. Proposals due December 10th! 

Legislative Branch:   

  • Government Shutdown Comes to an End: The federal government shutdown that began on October 1st, 2025, after Congress failed to pass full‐year appropriations, officially ended on November 12th when President Trump signed a funding bill into law. The legislation restores funding for most federal agencies through January 30th, 2026, with certain departments funded through September 2026. It reverses the reductions in force (RIFs) implemented by the Trump administration since October 1 and guarantees legally mandated back pay for all federal workers, including those who have been furloughed and those who have been required to work. It also restores and maintains funding for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) operations. If your community or program has been impacted by the government shutdown, please contact NYEC Senior Advisor for Federal Policy, Nathan Hora (nathan.hora@nyec.org).  

Executive Branch: 

  • First Lady Melania Trump Announces Executive Order on Fostering the Future: An Executive Order titled “Fostering the Future for American Children and Families”, announced by Melania Trump, expands partnerships across federal agencies, the private sector, nonprofits, and academia to create new education, job-training and mentoring opportunities for youth who have experienced foster care. 

Federal Funding Opportunities with upcoming deadlines: 

  • HHS Grant: National Center on Head Start Early Learning, Health and Family Engagement: The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start announces the availability of approximately $15,000,000 to be competitively awarded for the purpose of operating the Head Start National Center on Early Learning, Health, and Family Engagement. This NC will provide training and technical assistance that reflects current evidence, is research-informed, and promotes best practices. Applications are due December 15, 2025. 

From the States: 

  • Tennessee/Idaho: Idaho and Tennessee recently passed state legislation that increased the eligibility for the Extended Foster Care (EFC) program from age 21 to 23. This will provide participants with increased support with housing assistance and life-skills support. 
  • Ohio: Ohio Senate Bill 50 reached the governor’s desk for signing. If the bill is passed, it would adjust child labor laws to allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. on school nights with parent permission. The bill does not adjust how many hours minors can work, it just extends the time frame.  

Resources: 

  • State Juvenile Justice Profiles | OJJDP: This site allows you to search State Juvenile Justice Profiles, which provide information on youth incarceration rates, demographic data, victimization data, and more. Data is displayed alongside national averages for comparison and can be downloaded in multiple formats (csv., excel, pdf, etc.).  
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