Inspiring Solutions for Adolescent & Young Adult Health

We are youthink—an innovation hub powered by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) that supports changemakers in cultivating new ideas and bold solutions to advance adolescent and young adult health.

We believe everyone is an innovator. Through our programs, we provide cohorts of youth-serving professionals and young people with the tools, training, and coaching they need to go from challenge to change. Here’s how we do it:

  • Our Incubator Program partners with youth-serving professionals from organizations across the US and its territories to develop and test innovative approaches to complex adolescent health challenges using design thinking. Over eight months, teams receive specialized training, tailored support, and $50,000 in funding.
  • Our Fellowship teaches young adults ages 18–25 how to apply design thinking and other innovation principles to timely adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues. Over seven weeks, fellows learn from CHLA experts, collaborate in small teams, gain hands‑on experience, and receive a $5,000 stipend.

youthink is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Population Affairs. Read our FAQs to learn more.

We Connect You With…

Innovation Frameworks

Design thinking education and resources to approach challenges creatively

Community

An expansive network of passionate professionals and peers for collaboration

Trainings & Tools

Interactive workshops and materials to practice new skills and ways of thinking

Funding

Financial resources to fund your innovation process

Subject Matter Experts

Adolescent health professionals and direct service providers to discuss your unique interests and needs

Coaching

Individualized support to guide you through your innovation journey

Hear from youthink Participants:

youthink has been personally and professionally inspiring – I have gleaned a lot of knowledge and passion from our cohort and coaches. Design thinking helps broaden my thought process and tackle problems open-mindedly.

youthink participant

2024

Overall, it has been one of the best experiences that I’ve had in my professional life. I only wish I was younger so that I could have used it more often in other ways.

youthink participant

2024

When I talk about this project, I often focus on how different this setup is from any other [opportunity] I’ve been involved with [including] the level of communication, the ongoing [technical assistance], the continuous feedback, and the creation of a community. I often struggle to remember even the name of our grant manager on most [projects] so it’s nice to know the entire team that’s part of this.

youthink participant

2024

The team is amazing – so smart, so kind, so empathetic – just wonderful, and the care and thought that has gone into trainings is so appreciated! I have adored my time working with this group and have learned so much! If only all teams worked this way, guided by these values.

youthink participant

2024

Sound like you? We want to hear from you!

Learn More: FAQs

Apply to youthink
Questions? Email us: youthink@chla.usc.edu.