The International Youth Foundation (IYF) has developed a new initiative that will mainstream adolescent sexual and reproductive health, including family planning, into its ongoing global youth development programs.  With support from a US$ 799,000 grant from World Learning, as part of their cooperative agreement with USAID’s Bureau of Global Health, IYF will strengthen up its technical expertise to provide greater support and capacity building to organizations within IYF’s Global Partner Network, now active in 70 countries. Susan Brock, who has 25 years of experience in the health field, has been hired as IYF’s new Project Director for Health Programs to lead the mainstreaming initiative over the next two and a half years. IYF will convene a Family Planning Summit, to be held in September 2007 in the Philippines, to formally launch the effort.  

 

 “From the beginning, IYF has placed a top priority on ensuring today’s young people have the tools and information they need to make healthy and informed choices in their lives,” says IYF President and CEO William S. Reese.  “Given such pressing global challenges as reducing maternal and infant mortality rates and the spread of HIV/AIDS, we believe it’s time to increase our capacity in this critical field of adolescent reproductive health and family planning so that more young people are truly prepared to make the successful transition to adulthood.”