The CWLA National Advisory Committee on Independent Living developed the list of the core elements of effective youth programs. This list will guide the project's development. A youth development program that reflects the core elements creates a healthy and safe environment, promotes healthy relationships, embraces total youth involvement, values each individual's strengths, commits to learning by doing, allows time for independence to develop, creates and nurtures community partnerships, and builds in feedback and self-assessment. Effective youth programs are comprehensive, focusing on the youth as a whole in the context of family and culture rather than on one or more problem areas. The project's director notes that some agencies already exemplify many of the core elements. The result of this CWLA project will be a curriculum and training for administrators, staff members, and foster parents in agencies that serve youth people, based on the core elements of effective programs. Grants will allow five selected agencies to improve their preparation for independent living services by applying these principles and core elements. Case examples