A nationwide movement of belonging

Real connection. Real belonging. Real impact.

Every school has clubs. We're building the network that helps every student feel like they belong.

Connected Youth Network partners with middle and high schools to launch student-led Connect Crews — peer communities with trained adult advisors, leadership training, and belonging you can measure.

What

School-based Connect Crews + advisor support

 How

Partner → Train → Connect weekly crews

 Why different

Peer-to-peer belonging, not left to chance

 Why now

15,000 hours in school — many still feel alone
Partner with CYN How it works
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Workstreams
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Platform layers
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Youth-led
Young people gathered around a table in a casual meeting, sharing ideas and building connections
Crew · Westwood High
Wellbeing signal
+38% peer support
Safety Belonging Connection Student-led Wellbeing Community Real impact
Our Mission

Mission

A world where connection and belonging are the norm, and young people lead the way through Connect Crews that shape positive, supportive communities.

Connected Youth Network partners with schools so students can build peer-led spaces where every young person feels seen, supported, and part of something larger — growing skills, friendships, and a culture of belonging that lasts beyond the classroom.

What CYN Does

We Partner With Schools to Build Student-Led Connect Crews.

CYN partners with middle and high schools to launch and sustain student-led Connect Crews—peer communities where students build belonging, strengthen leadership, and create a culture of connection with the support of trained adult advisors.

What partner schools receive

01

Student Leader Training

Young people learn to lead their own crews.

02

Advisor Training

Trusted adults supervise without taking over.

03

Ready-to-use Resources

Guides and toolkits for every meeting.

04

Belonging Measurement

Impact you can see — not assume.

05

Ongoing Coaching

Support that keeps crews thriving.

Partner with CYN How it works
The Impact

Belonging, Measured.

Signals from real crews — not guesswork. Every number reflects what students and advisors report on the ground.

Live
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More peer support

Students report stronger connections after joining a Connect Crew.

Crew
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Feel they belong

Nine in ten youth say they feel seen and included in their crew.

Youth
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Student-led crews

Every crew is youth-led with trained adult advisors alongside.

Safe
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Safety layers

Trusted adults, moderation, privacy, and age-appropriate design.

How It Works

Three Steps to Belonging.

From first conversation to a thriving, student-led crew.

  1. 01

    Start with schools

    Partner

    Schools join and pick student leaders.

  2. 02

    Equip your team

    Train

    Leaders and advisors get ready-to-run tools.

  3. 03

    Run weekly crews

    Connect

    Crews meet weekly — belonging takes root.

The Challenge

Why Don't Schools Already Have This?

Schools teach academics. Some teach social-emotional skills. Very few intentionally build peer-to-peer belonging.

Surrounded by classmates, yet no one truly knows them.

Without a way in, it's easy to drift to the edges.

Real friendships don't always form on their own.

When students belong, confidence and learning grow with them.

About Connected Youth Network

Building Safer Spaces for Connection, Growth, and Belonging.

Connected Youth Network is a youth-led ecosystem for connection, mentorship, and growth — building a nationwide network where student leaders transform school culture, one connection at a time. Schools join a growing movement where young people create cultures of belonging, not just another program on the calendar.

One school at a time

A Culture of Belonging, Led by Young People.

Every crew sparks the next — students leading students, schools inspiring schools, until belonging becomes the norm, not the exception.

Student-led
At the core
School by school
Growing network
Lasting
Cultural change

CYN isn't just a program — it's a movement to make every school a place where every young person feels they belong.

Join the movement
Our Story · Why Connection Matters

Everyone Deserves to Find Their People

Press play and meet the young people behind the movement — where a single connection becomes confidence, belonging, and the feeling of finally being seen.

Real students. Real belonging. This is the heart of everything we build.

The vision behind it
Janice Houlihan, Founder and Executive Director of Connected Youth Network
Driven by Youth Belonging
Experience 20+ Years
Meet the founder

JANICE HOULIHAN.

Founder & Executive Director — Connected Youth Network

Every young person deserves to feel they belong — not as a buzzword, but as something real they carry with them every day.

With an M.Ed. and 20+ years in social work, Janice designs environments where young people are seen, heard, and centered — keeping CYN grounded in compassion, rigor, and the power of peer connection.

M.Ed · Social Work Youth Development Nonprofit Leadership
Read more
Safety by Design

Safe Spaces Are Non-Negotiable.

Connection starts with safety circle model showing Safety, Belonging, and Connection

Data Privacy, Integrity, and Safe Community by Design

From data protection to community wellbeing, every interaction is designed with safety, trust, and digital responsibility at its core.

Content Moderation

AI and human review keep every space positive, respectful, and inclusive.

System Integrity

Encryption and continuous audits protect against external threats and misuse.

Age-Appropriate Design

Stage-matched controls and experiences support every learner profile safely.

User Empowerment

Clear tools and guidance help youth and advisors make informed choices.

Community Impact

Belonging That Grows.

Real signals from real crews — tracked, not guessed.

Crew Pulse
Crew pulse dashboard
A diverse group of young people stacking their hands together in unity and teamwork
Every young person
Deserves to belong
Why CYN Exists

Why CYN Exists

Students spend nearly 15,000 hours in school. Many still leave feeling alone.

Schools have programs. Students need places where connection becomes part of everyday life. That's why we're building Connected Youth Network.

Belonging isn't a luxury. It's the foundation every young person grows from.
Let's Build Together

Creating Belonging Starts With Collaboration.

We don't believe organizations working to improve youth wellbeing are competitors. Every young person deserves a connected community, and we believe lasting change happens when schools, nonprofits, families, and youth work together. Whether you're ready to start a crew or just exploring, we'd love to hear from you.

Send us a message Email us directly