Laura Waldman - Indiana Youth Institute

Data

Data Hub Need data or research for a grant application, report, or program development? Explore IYI’s Data Hub for specific youth-related topics or dive deeper into your community’s data. Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book Find data about Hoosier youth in the Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book, IYI’s annual statewide snapshot of child well-being. County Dashboard A snapshot of youth well-being in every Indiana county. National KIDS COUNT® Data Book The Annie E. Casey Foundation's National KIDS COUNT® Data Book includes national and state data across four domains — economic well-being, education, health and family and community — and ranks states in overall child well-being. Annie E. Casey KIDS COUNT Data Center The Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT® Data Center is a premier source of data on children, youth and families. Dive into data indicators from across the country.

Data Hub Topics

Demographics Child Welfare Health Economic Well-Being Education

Curious about a youth issue? Explore youth research and data by topics and subtopics. Start your search by selecting a topic to see available indicators.

Events

Event Calendar Find local and statewide events featuring best practices and insightful perspectives from local, statewide, and national speakers.

Upcoming Events

Event

Webinar – IYI’s 2026 State of the Child

Event

Indiana Youth Institute’s 2026 State of the Child

Services

Professional Support

Conferences & Training Annual in-person and virtual conferences and trainings that bring best practices and insightful perspectives from state and national speakers. Youth Worker Cafes Local professional education trainings responsive and relevant to the challenges in the field. Networking opportunity for local leaders and youth serving professionals. Webinars Stay up-to-date with the latest trends from the field with national, regional, and local speakers who are experts in the field. Youth Worker Well-Being Project Statewide effort to address individual youth worker well-being, workplace conditions, and root causes of stress in the sector.

Organizational Support

College & Career Readiness Services, trainings, program navigation, and resources for youth-serving organizations supporting youth on their postsecondary education journey. Consulting Services Expert support for youth-serving organizations working to increase the effectiveness and capacity of their impacts. Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana Helping Indiana youth-serving organizations promote the academic, physical, and social well-being of young people. MENTOR Indiana Expanding quality mentoring programs, MENTOR Indiana is a valuable resource for youth mentoring organizations. Promise Indiana Supports for early activities in schools and communities increasing the postsecondary readiness of Indiana youth.

Knowledge Center

Virginia Beall Ball Knowledge Center Resources and research for people and organizations impacting the healthy development of youth. Start exploring! Access to EBSCO Database Thousands more resources through the EBSCO Academic Search Complete, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Sociology Source Ultimate, and Nonprofit Organization Reference Center databases. Use the link above to access the EBSCO database at no cost.

Recent Resources

5 Practices of the Caring Mentor

January is for Mentors and for Possibility

Stay Connected

How to Connect

Weekly Update Newsletter A weekly email newsletter with the latest youth development trends, IYI program news, and event updates. Meet Our Team Stay connected with IYI’s team. Engagement Liaison Program Local connectors who offer support to youth-serving organizations. Speaker Hub Connect with one of our expert speakers or learn about opportunities to speak at an IYI convening.

Meet Your Outreach Manager Connect with Statewide Engagement for the resources to help you grow in your career, build your organizational capacity, and network with others in the field. D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year IYI’s D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year Award annually recognizes a youth worker for their positive impact on youth. Learn about the impact our award winners are making in their communities. Support IYI All support given to IYI is used for the most pressing priorities – facilitating positive change for Indiana kids.

Explore Topics

As the demand for careers with post-secondary credentials continues to increase, starting college and career interventions early in a child’s life is essential. IYI’s College & Career Readiness Initiatives support individuals and institutions in their work to ensure all Indiana young people are prepared and positioned for success in their post-secondary educational journey.

LEARN MORE

We offer professional education opportunities to expand your knowledge through webinars, conferences, onsite training, and virtual events that connect you to peers around the state.

LEARN MORE

Indiana Youth Institute aggregates reliable, high-quality data and resources from state and national sources for youth workers and organizations working together to improve the lives of all Indiana children, especially those facing the greatest adversity.

Click on a topic below to explore.

Learn more

Child Welfare

Demographics

Economic Well-Being

Education

Health

We support organizations to advance their work each day through practical and innovative approaches to increasing capacity, efficiency, and impact.

LEARN MORE

The Youth Worker Well-Being Project is a collaborative statewide effort to address individual youth worker well-being, workplace conditions, and root causes of stress in the sector to promote comprehensive change in youth workers and invest in their well-being so they can provide the highest quality services for kids.

LEARN MORE

Laura is the Vice President of Special Projects. In her role, Laura leads cross-functional initiatives and efforts for IYI. Laura is passionate about supporting IYI’s work across the state through effective project management, community engagement, and continuous improvement.

Laura brings two decades of experience in research and evaluation, policy analysis, project management, and senior leadership to her role at IYI. Laura’s work has focused on strengthening programs, communities, and policies in education and workforce development.

Outside of work, Laura loves a good book, game night, cheering on the Butler Bulldogs, and spending time with her kids and husband.