Pictured: (1st photo) DCS Youth Advocates who truly made the event special with their engagement with the young parents who attended. (2nd photo) The DCS Office of Prevention and Prevent Child Abuse Arizona Training Manager who work together to plan the event.
Young Parent University (YPU) 2025 gathered teen and young adult parents at the Kroc Center in Phoenix for a day of learning, connection, and encouragement. Inspired by the warmth and camaraderie of a campsite, the event embraced the idea that parenting is its own kind of adventure—full of challenges, surprises, and moments of pure joy. And just like any great camping trip, it’s a whole lot easier (and way more fun) with a strong support team. Many thanks to the Department of Child Safety Office of Prevention, which helps fund and plan this event each year.
With 25 attendees, this year’s YPU featured four engaging workshops designed to equip young parents with essential tools for both parenting and personal growth:
- The Resiliency Resolution: The Decision to Win with Whatever Hand You’re Dealt
- Financial Literacy
- Boundaries Matter: Relationship Education Institute
- Parenting with Heart: Less Stress and More Joy!
Parents walked away with practical strategies to build resilience, manage their finances, set healthy boundaries, and cultivate more joy in their parenting journey.
Each attendee also received essential supplies to support their parenting journey. Every young parent left with a box of diapers and a backpack filled with useful items, including baby wipes, a t-shirt, and a book from our keynote speaker. To encourage engagement, parents who completed the resource table bingo game were rewarded with a $100 Target gift card or a one-year membership to the children’s museum for themselves and up to five guests. An exciting raffle topped off the day, and 10 lucky winners took home prizes to assist them through their child’s developmental milestones, including pack-and-plays, strollers, developmentally appropriate toys, and more.
The impact was undeniable! Every single survey respondent said they are “Very Likely” to attend Young Parent University in the future. Attendees also shared powerful reflections:
- “I learned how empathy is key to understanding growing babies.”
- “All topics were needed for the youth.”
- “I am very thankful for the event. I wish we had something like this for community members in my area.”
Young Parent University is all about offering warmth, wisdom, and positivity to the young parents who show up every day for their children and themselves.
Until next year, YPU campers—keep the fire of learning and connection alive!
