Update from ACT for Youth | November 2025

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ACT for Youth Resources

Now more than ever, people need help separating the good scientific information from the bad. The Evidence-Based Living (EBL) blog is here to help. This month we are sharing recent EBL posts relevant to people who work with and for youth--posts that clearly show we have much work to do to co-create the supportive, engaging environments that allow youth to thrive. EBL originates from our home base, Cornell University's Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research.

Black Students Still Receive More Punishment in Schools

Echoing a 2018 study, a new systematic review found that Black students in public schools are still consistently punished more than their white peers. Punitive school discipline increases the risk of depression, addiction, antisocial behavior, death by suicide, and other health problems.

Can We Train Students' Brains to Be Less Biased?

Everyone employs bias—otherwise known as cognitive shortcuts—in their lives every day. Mental shortcuts may have served us long ago, but they don’t translate well in our complex modern world.

What's Driving Suicidal Thoughts in Young People?

A sweeping new study that includes researchers from across the globe sheds light on factors influencing the crisis in youth suicide.

Research and Resources

Families thrive when their communities are strong and connected. Yet too often, families face barriers to resources that support well-being. The Community Building and Mobilization Framework provides practical strategies that shift the focus from short-term fixes to long-term, transformational relationships. Chapin Hall and Lutheran Services in America.

One of our most basic needs throughout our lives, and particularly during adolescence, is reliable access to healthy food. Yet adolescents are more likely to face food insecurity than younger children. This brief discusses the issue, consequences, and how youth can be--and already are--involved in solutions. UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent.

A recent risk assessment of Meta AI found that Meta AI poses unacceptable risks to teen safety. Meta AI is available to users age 13+ as a stand-alone app as well as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Additional AI Risk Assessments are also available. Common Sense Media.

From social media to gaming, apps, and more, adolescent boys spend hours each day online. New research reveals how this relates to their identities, relationships, and emotional well-being. Common Sense Media.

This tip sheet outlines strategies youth-supporting professionals can use to help young parents and their caregivers navigate the challenges of adolescent parenthood. Activate.

Professional Development

Grants

This newsletter was developed with funding provided by the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Perinatal, Reproductive, and Sexual Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the ACT for Youth Center for Community Action and do not necessarily represent the views of the New York State Department of Health.