Center for Applied Research and Technical Assistance

The mission of CARTA is to facilitate the safe and healthy development of disadvantaged and vulnerable youth, by building capacity of practitioners and by promoting the coordination of community-based services and systems of care.

CARTA accomplishes this mission through four primary activities:

1) Supporting and sustaining provider efforts through on-going technical assistance in program and systems development, evaluation and training; 2) Conducting and compiling information from basic and applied research on the "real world" issues affecting the well-being of youth and on promising program models and service delivery strategies; 3) Disseminating "real world" research and best practice to providers and agencies that support diverse youth populations; 4) Educating policy makers and the public about the factors that facilitate the healthy development of disadvantaged and vulnerable youth and the strategies and systems that promote their well-being.