FAQs

Everything You Need to Know About youthink

General

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

We believe everyone is an innovator. Our programs guide cohorts of youth-serving professionals and young people through an impactful innovation process informed by design thinking—an approach to problem solving that uses empathy and creativity to come up with meaningful solutions. We provide the training, tools, and coaching that help teams and individuals go from challenge to change. Here’s how:

  • Our Incubator Program: We partner with teams of youth-serving professionals and young people across the U.S. and its territories so they can develop and test innovative solutions to complex adolescent health challenges in their community. Over eight months, teams receive specialized training, tailored support, and $50,000 in funding.
  • Our Adolescent Health Innovation Fellowship: We support young adults ages 18–25 in innovating new solutions for selected adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues. Over seven weeks, fellows learn from adolescent health experts, collaborate in small teams, gain hands‑on experience, and receive a$5,000 stipend.
Read more below.

At youthink, we define design thinking as “an innovative approach to problem solving that uses empathy and creativity to come up with meaningful, resonant solutions.” The design thinking methodology has five steps:

  • Empathize: Engaging with stakeholders to understand their lived experiences, values, motivations, and deeper needs.
  • Define: Using the data you’ve gathered to clearly identify the problem that needs solving.
  • Ideate: Brainstorming lots of ways to solve the problem, and choosing a few to move forward.
  • Prototype: Building a small-scale representation of an idea to share with stakeholders.
  • Test: Sharing a prototype with stakeholders, listening to feedback, and refining the prototype to create an effective solution.

Design thinking is about putting humans at the center of your problem solving process to make lasting, impactful change. It is intentional, iterative, and engaging. It can be used across public and private sectors, and we really believe in using it to solve pressing problems in adolescent health. Read this article to learn more.

youthink is led by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Health at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in collaboration with the CHLA Innovation Studio.

youthink is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Population Affairs (OPA) through its Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program.

Learn about what we look for in applicants by visiting our Incubator Program page or our Fellowship page, or by reading the FAQs for each program below. At this time, people who are employed by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are not eligible to apply to either program.

The Incubator Program is for teams of youth‑serving professionals and young people who want to spend 8 months designing, testing, and strengthening solutions to address adolescent health challenges in their community using design thinking and other innovation principles. youthink provides specialized training, coaching, and $50,000 in funding. 

The Fellowship is a paid, 7‑week learning experience for young adults, ages 18–25, who want to use design thinking and other innovation principles to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues. Fellows will collaborate on creative ideas, gain hands‑on experience, receive expert guidance, and earn a $5,000 stipend.

Coaching gives you support throughout your time with youthink. Your coach helps you with project management so you can stay on track with your milestones, understand what work is on your plate, and feel clear about your next steps. They also provide individualized guidance on how to apply the design thinking and innovation concepts you’re learning, to your project. Every step of the way, your coach serves as a supportive partner who encourages you, celebrates your wins, and helps strengthen your team’s dynamic.

Cohort 3 of our Incubator Program is expected to launch in October 2026. Applications will open in June 2026. Sign up for our email list to stay updated.

The first cohort for our Fellowship will run from June 22, 2026, through August 7, 2026. We’ll have an informational webinar on February 6, 2026 and applications will be open from February 9, 2026, through February 20, 2026 or until we receive 75 applications (whichever comes first)

Incubator Program

The youthink Incubator Program partners with teams of youth-serving professionals and young people from organizations across the U.S. 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.

In the youthink Incubator Program, teams develop an innovation for a specific adolescent health problem or challenge in their community. Over 8 months, youthink guides teams through the youthink Incubator Journey Map and provides hands-on training, coaching, and other support so that they can design impactful, community-informed solutions. By the end of the program, each team will have developed and tested a prototype, which is a small-scale, physical representation of their solution. Teams leave the program with a clear plan and a supportive network to continue their work as innovators.

Teams can focus on a variety of issues affecting adolescent and young adult health such as:

  • Youth mental health
  • Substance use prevention
  • Services for pregnant or parenting teens
  • Parents and caregivers
These are just a few examples – teams are encouraged to identify and explore a challenge specific to their own community or work. Learn more about our prior Cohorts and their topics .

No, you don’t need, and shouldn’t be attached, to an idea of a solution yet. youthink staff will help teams explore their problem and develop community-informed solutions through the program.

The youthink Incubator Program isn’t the right fit if your team already has a developed solution that you would like to focus on moving forward. If you have an existing product or intervention, consider applying to a hybrid or accelerator hub.

Your team should apply to join if you:

  • Have 3 to 5 people (ages 18+)
  • Include at least one young person on your team (ages 18–25)
  • Live in the United States and its territories
  • Can partner with an organization that can receive funding on your behalf (called a fiscal sponsor – see more information in “Funding and Budget” below)
  • Can commit to about 20-30 hours per person per month for 8 months
  • Are available to travel to Los Angeles, CA on [DATES]
  • Are passionate about improving young people’s health in your community
  • Need support and resources to address a challenge in adolescent and young adult health
  At this time, people who are employed by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) are not eligible to apply to either program.

Yes. Each team must have a partner organization that can serve as a fiscal sponsor, meaning it can receive and manage funds for your team. Your fiscal sponsor must be: 

  • A legally recognized entity (e.g., non-profit organization, school, college, university, hospital or health organization, government agency, for-profit organization)
  • Able to subcontract with youthink, as well as receive and manage funds from on behalf of your team
  • Responsible for financial reporting and accountability
  Team members don’t need to be employed by their fiscal sponsor. Team members may also be from multiple different organizations or serve as “individual contributors” (i.e., no organizational affiliation).

Each team should include one team lead who: 

  • Handles administrative communication with youthink staff
  • Assists with reporting and managing youthink funds
  • Keeps their team involved and active
  Each team should also include one or more youth leaders who:
  • Are ages 18-25
  • Have equal voice and responsibility as other team members
  Please note: Youth leaders can serve as team leads. Team members can be from different organizations. People who aren’t associated with any organization can still apply as part of a team, as long as the team has an eligible fiscal sponsor.

No. Your team doesn’t need to have funding from any specific source to apply. You can apply even if you don’t have funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Population Affairs or Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program.

The application and selection process for the youthink Incubator Program takes about 2 months from start to finish and is designed to identify teams that are a good fit. The general process is:

  • Step 1: Written Application (about 2 weeks) The application opens in June 2026 with an informational webinar. Teams will have roughly 2 weeks to apply through Ideawake application platform which lets team members collaborate and save drafts before submitting. Teams are encouraged to apply early, so youthink staff has enough time to review each application thoroughly.
  • Step 2: Initial Review (about 2 weeks) youthink staff and advisors review each application to see how well it aligns with the Incubator Program goals, vision, and guiding principles.
  • Step 3: Interview (about 4 weeks) Selected teams are invited to interview with youthink staff. The interview helps staff learn more about the team’s ideas, commitment, dynamics, and innovation potential.
  • Step 4: Final Review (about 2 weeks) youthink staff select teams based on their application, interview, and other factors such as geography, topic, cohort composition, and team readiness.
  • Step 5: Offers (about 1 week) Teams are notified of youthink’s final decision by July 2026. Selected teams then begin the onboarding process to get ready for the start of the program. 

Your team can collaborate on the application by working together on draft responses in a shared document before entering them into Ideawake. Please make sure that only one person submits the final application.

Yes. You can preview the application questions in our How to Apply Guide. Join our email list to get updates about when applications open and to receive the guide. We’ll also post it on our website when applications open.

By participating, you’ll gain a wealth of valuable experiences, skills, and resources including:

  • Innovation expertise:  Learn and apply design thinking skills to identify and solve problems in human-centered ways, understand the experiences and needs of the community you serve, and develop and test creative solutions
  • New adolescent health perspectives: Apply positive youth development and youth engagement concepts
  • A dedicated support network: Work with changemakers and get guidance from experts including a coach dedicated to your team’s success
  • Funding: Receive $50,000stipend for personnel, incentives, and other innovation needs
  • Hands-on learning: Engage in 32+ hours of virtual trainings, regular coaching, cohort-wide calls, and 2 fully funded in-person events
  • Lasting impact: Develop ideas that will help young people in your community and beyond

youthink‘s Incubator Program lasts 8 months. The time commitment will vary by phase and by team role, but most participants should plan for an average of 20–30 hours of work per month. October and November will be the most time‑intensive months. Key activities include:

  • Monthly virtual trainings and meetings with other cohort members (about 4 hours per month)
  • Weekly coaching calls with your team (about 4 hours per month)
  • Weekly meetings with your team, without youthink staff (about 4 hours per month)
  • Independent team or individual work to reach key milestones
  In addition to the above, each participant should plan for:
  • 5–10 hours before the program starts for onboarding activities
  • About 40 hours, plus travel time, for two in‑person gathering (fully funded by youthink) in October (currently planned for DATE) and March
  • About 5 hours after the program ends for evaluation activities
  Teams must be ready to fully participate in youthink. Supervisors or organizational leaders must approve each participant’s involvement.

Cohort 3 of our Incubator Program is expected to launch in October 2026. Mark your calendar for:

  • June – July 2026: Application and selection process
  • August – September 2026: Onboarding
  • October 2026 – May 2027: Program Period, including travel for:
  • In-person gathering 1 in Los Angeles, CA
  • In-person gathering 2

The Incubator Program isn’t a grant. Instead, we ask participants to think of this opportunity as technical assistance that comes with funding. We provide $50,000 that can be used towards personnel, incentives, and other costs associated with your innovation process. Teams will be paid upon completion of 4 distinct deliverables (about every 2 months).

If selected to join, youthink will provide funding as a subcontract to your fiscal sponsor. Your fiscal sponsor will be asked to complete or provide the following documents:

  • Subcontract commitment form (form provided)
  • Budget and justification (template provided)
  • Federal indirect cost rate agreement (if you have one)
  youthink staff will help you complete these documents as needed.

Yes. The youthink team will work with you to create a budget based on your needs during the program that ensures all funds are spent during the 8-month period.

Yes.

Fellowship

The youthink Adolescent Health Innovation Fellowship partners with young people, ages 18-25, across the U.S. and its territories, to develop and test innovative approaches to complex adolescent health challenges using design thinking and other innovation principles. Over 7 weeks, teams gain hands-on experience, receive expert guidance, and a $5,000 stipend.

In the youthink Fellowship, young people ages 18–25 will learn and practice how to innovate around a challenge in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Each participant will be placed on a team with 3 other fellows to develop solutions for selected focus areas (outlined further below). The program begins with a week-long, in-person gathering where individuals will connect with their teams and learn foundational concepts to participate in the program. Over the remaining 6 weeks, they will work virtually – on their own and with their teams – to complete milestones informed by the youthink Fellowship Journey Map ,supported by a coach and connections with the larger cohort each step of the way. By the end of the program, each team will have developed and tested a prototype – or small-scale, physical representation of a solution to their challenge.

You should apply if you:

  • Are interested in or have experience in adolescent health or sexual and reproductive health
  • Are a high school graduate (or have a GED) plus at least one year of work or education after high school
  • Are ages 18–25 by the start of the program
  • Live in and are eligible to work in the United States and its territories
  At this time, people who are employed by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) or are prior youthink participants aren’t eligible to apply.

Fellows will dive deep into an important need in the adolescent sexual and reproductive health space, such as:

  • Access to knowledge and information
  • Decision-making and relationships
  • Engaging young men
  Applicants will review and rank their interest in specific focus areas as part of the application process.

We plan to accept 12 fellows for the first cohort (June-August 2026). The cohort will reflect a range of experiences, interests, backgrounds, and geographic locations in the U.S. and its territories.

The application and selection process for the Fellowship takes about 2 months from start to finish and is designed to identify individuals that are a good fit. The general process is:  

  • Step 1: Written Application (about 2 weeks) The Fellowship application will be open from February 9 to February 20, 2026, or until we receive 75 applications—whichever comes first. Individuals will have roughly 2 weeks to apply through Ideawake  application platform. The application requires a short video and a few short answer questions. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, so youthink staff have enough time to review each application thoroughly.
  • Step 2: Initial Review (about 2 weeks) youthink staff review each application to see how well it aligns with youthink goals, vision, and guiding principles.
  • Step 3: Interview (about 4 weeks) Selected individuals are invited to an informal interview with youthink staff. 
  • Step 4: Final Review (about 2 weeks) youthink staff select individuals based on their application, interview, and other factors such as geography, cohort composition, and readiness.
  • Step 5: Offers (about 1 week)
Individuals are notified of youthink’s final decision. Selected participants then begin the onboarding process to get ready for the start of the program. 

The Fellowship begins with a four‑day, in‑person training (week of June 22) that is fully funded by youthink. The remaining 6 weeks of the fellowship (June 29-August 7) will be entirely virtual – fellows will participate in live trainings and meetings with their cohort, teams, and coaches, as well as engage in independent work.

By participating, you’ll gain a wealth of valuable experiences, skills, and resources including:

  • Training and coaching in design thinking and adolescent sexual and reproductive health innovation
  • A 7‑week cohort experience with peers who share your passion
  • A 4‑day in‑person training with CHLA experts and cohort members in Los Angeles, CA 
  • Hands‑on experience designing and testing an adolescent sexual and reproductive health innovation
  • A $5,000 stipend for your participation
  • A letter of recommendation upon successful completion
  • Professional development support, including resume-building and personalized guidance 
  • Opportunities to build your professional network
  • Get guidance about what is next for their prototype and their future as innovators

Yes. You may work another job while you’re in the Fellowship. A part-time or flexible job will likely be easier to manage during the program (we anticipate a full-time job during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will not be possible). If you have another job, you must still meet all program requirements, including attending the in-person gathering, joining virtual meetings, and completing weekly milestones on time.

The Fellowship is 7 weeks long. Week 1 includes 4 days of in-person training, plus additional time for travel – anticipated to be roughly 40-50 hours. Weeks 2-7 will average between 20-30 hours per week, and will always include:

  • A 1-2 hour meeting with the cohort 
  • A 1-hour coaching call with you and your team
  • 2-4 hours of meetings with your team (without youthink staff)
  • Between 10-15 hours of independent work
  In addition to the above, each participant should plan for:
  • 10 hours before the program starts for onboarding and pre-work activities
  • 5 hours after the program ends for evaluation activities
  Participants must be ready to participate fully in youthink.

The first cohort of our Fellowship will begin in June 2026. Here’s a timeline:

  • February 9–20, 2026: Application period
    • Open until February 20 or until we receive 75 applications, whichever comes first
  • June 22–25, 2026 (plus travel days): In‑person gathering (Los Angeles, CA)
  • June 26–August 7, 2026: Virtual programming

Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend at the end of the program after they complete all program requirements. The stipend is paid by check and typically takes 4–6 weeks to process. All travel will be covered by youthink and won’t be taken out of the stipend.

If selected for the Fellowship, you’ll need to fill out a W-9 form and a general vendor agreement to receive payment from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. You don’t need to submit immunization records or any other medical information. We’ll provide more details during onboarding.

You’ll need: access to a computer, reliable internet, a quiet space, and the ability to travel to the 4-day in‑person gathering. youthink will pay for travel.

youthink will arrange and pay for your flight, hotel, airport transportation, and several meals in advance of your travel. For other eligible expenses—such as meals not provided or baggage fees—youthink will give you gift cards, so you won’t need to pay out of pocket. If you do have direct expenses, you can request reimbursement by completing our reimbursement form. Reimbursement is typically processed within 4–6 weeks after the event. You’ll receive more detailed information during orientation.