Building a Future Where Every Child Has Five Supportive Adults

by Tami Silverman, President & CEO of Indiana Youth Institute

At Indiana Youth Institute, we believe every child deserves to grow up surrounded by caring adults who see their potential, listen when life becomes difficult, and cheer them on as they pursue their dreams. It is a simple idea, yet one powerful enough to change lives and strengthen our state. That belief is at the heart of IYI’s newest statewide vision, FIVE by 50, introduced this month at the 2025 KIDS COUNT® Conference.

A Vision Rooted in Connection

FIVE by 50 is an ambitious, long-term effort to ensure that by the year 2050, every child and youth in Indiana is connected to at least five supportive adults. These adults may include family members, mentors, teachers, counselors, coaches, out-of-school providers, or faith and community leaders.

Research shows that strong, consistent relationships are among the most powerful protective factors in a young person’s life. Youth who have multiple caring adults in their corner are more likely to graduate from high school, maintain positive mental health, and avoid risky behaviors. In contrast, isolation, loneliness, and a lack of trusted adults are linked to poorer health and diminished hope for the future.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and programs like Self-Healing Communities in Michiana have both found that communities that foster trust and belonging experience lower rates of anxiety, depression, and even premature death. The evidence is clear: building webs of connection is one of the most effective ways to improve well-being for both youth and communities.

Celebrating the Work Already Underway

While FIVE by 50 looks to the future, it also recognizes and celebrates the vital work already happening across Indiana. Every day, youth workers and youth serving organizations help build the supportive networks that make this vision possible.

They are the mentors who listen, the teachers who inspire curiosity, the counselors who help a young person find courage, and the community leaders who create welcoming spaces for growth. Their daily efforts are not small acts of service. They are acts of care, commitment, and belief in what every child can become.

At IYI, we see these dedicated professionals all over Indiana. Each mentor who checks in after practice, each counselor or teacher who stays late to help a student, each community center volunteer who shows up week after week contributes to the web of belonging that gives young people confidence and hope.

We also understand the challenges they face. Many work with limited resources while addressing growing needs. FIVE by 50 seeks to lift up their work by bringing greater public awareness, stronger partnerships, and better coordination to support those who support Indiana’s children.

From Awareness to Action

FIVE by 50 is not only a statement of belief; it is also a call to action. Through this initiative, IYI will bring together schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and faith communities to align efforts and intentionally strengthen support networks for children. It is about ensuring that relationships are created with purpose and sustained with care. We invite every youth serving professional to proudly say, “I am one of five for Indiana kids.”

A Shared Responsibility

This vision does not belong to one organization. It belongs to all of us: families, educators, business leaders, policymakers, and neighbors. FIVE by 50 is built on a shared sense of responsibility. When every child is surrounded by five caring adults, entire communities grow stronger.

IYI’s approach is data-driven and adaptable. We will measure progress, listen to community feedback, and adjust strategies as we learn. From local mentoring programs to statewide collaborations, each layer of support will reinforce the next and create a durable network that can sustain itself across generations.

How to Get Involved

The path to 2050 begins right now. Individuals can join the effort by visiting iyi.org/FIVEby50 to sign up for updates, access resources, and learn ways to become one of five. Youth serving organizations can become partners by committing to the shared goal and incorporating relational strategies into their everyday work.

We also encourage civic leaders, funders, and community partners to help create systems that make connection a community priority. Imagine if every neighborhood, school, and organization across Indiana measured success not only by academic achievement but also by the strength of relationships that help each child thrive.

A Future Worth Building

As with all big goals, FIVE by 50 will take time, persistence, and partnership. Indiana has a long tradition of taking on challenges together. We have built programs that improve youth mental health, expand career opportunities, and strengthen families. Now we are building networks of belonging, one relationship at a time.

Each time an adult listens, encourages, or believes in a child, that network becomes stronger. Together, those connections form the foundation for a healthier and more hopeful Indiana.

The work begins with each of us. Be one of five.

Learn more and join the effort at iyi.org/FIVEby50.

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