Our Commitment to the Science of Adolescence
The Center for the Developing Adolescent was founded on the belief that knowledge from the developmental science of adolescence can help us improve the lives of young people.
Our nation and broader global community are experiencing a period of rapid policy and economic changes. In this time of swift actions and reactions, we remain committed to continuing our Center’s core work: to share what we know from research about how best to support all young people now and as they grow as leaders and community members.
We know that during adolescence our brains are forming connections more quickly in response to our experiences than at any time after early childhood. The extent of these changes make the adolescent years a critical window when research-informed policies and programs for youth can have a lifelong positive impact on health, education, wellbeing, and social as well as economic success.
Likewise, we know that negative experiences during these years, including lack of access to essential resources, exclusion from opportunities, and messages that they don’t belong, can create steeper hills for young people to climb toward a healthy adulthood.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to clearly and accurately share the science of adolescent development to promote positive development for all young people, regardless of economic background, race, immigration status, sexuality, or gender identity.
This is a pivotal moment for our country, our young people, and research innovation. Changes to long-established policies and systems are intersecting with changes in technology and global affairs in ways that may create new opportunities for some while presenting steep new challenges for others. We will continue to operate as a trustworthy source of the developmental science of adolescence. Incorporating a science-based understanding of adolescent development into our collective work can help ensure that our young people have the support they need to build healthy connections—in their world and within their brains—so that they and our communities can thrive.
