In/Tend
In/Tend is a vibrant ecosystem of
dreamers, doers, and change-makers
who push the boundaries of
imagination in adolescent health.
Human-Centered
& Liberatory Design
We’re on a mission to enhance the sexual and reproductive health of all young people. To do this, we’re cultivating teams who’ll use participatory research and design to sow and scatter the seeds of innovative, equity-focused solutions to real-world challenges.
We believe in uplifting doers, dreamers, and change-makers with diverse backgrounds and wide-ranging lived experiences—particularly those prepared to get their hands dirty, try new things, and adapt to evolving conditions on the ground.
Ready to roll up your sleeves? Applications for the next Sprout: A Design Challenge are now open.
Make sure you’re on our email list to be the first to hear the latest from In/Tend.
Join Sprout: A Design Challenge
Are you passionate about making life better for adolescents and young adults? Do you want to use an interesting method called human-centered design to do it?
Human-centered design is a creative problem-solving approach that starts by understanding the needs and experiences of the people you’re designing for, resulting in solutions truly tailored to their needs and preferences. If this approach sounds like something you’d like to learn how to do, then we have the opportunity for you!
Join us for a hands-on four-day workshop, where you will learn to use human-centered design methods in a welcoming environment.
We’re selecting six teams, each with three people who are new to human-centered design but really care about improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
Over four days, with the support of our expert coaches, teams will learn to use human-centered design methodologies. They will engage with a challenge, crafting fresh and innovative solutions while witnessing human-centered design in action.
Our goal is to show newcomers how human-centered design works and help them feel confident using it. If you already know and enjoy human-centered design and feel it’s your thing, Sprout is likely not the best match for you. However, you may want to apply for our next opportunity, coming early Spring 2025, when we open In/Tend Incubator Hub applications for Innovation Development Teams!
Ready to make a difference? Join us!
Digging in...
Hands-On Learning
Get into the weeds and learn about human-centered design with real-world challenges during this immersive 7-month journey.
Beginner-Friendly Space
Experiment, play, and build creative confidence in a supportive environment.
Expert Guidance
Benefit from the coaching and mentorship of seasoned design professionals.
Financial Support
You and your team will receive up to $90,000 to support you on your innovation journey!
Future Opportunities
There’s no limit to what your innovative solution can achieve, and we’ll give you the tools and skills you need to succeed.
Notes from our garden
Sprout: A Design Challenge Media Kit
July 11, 19, 22 | Virtual
Please help us spread the word and invite people to apply to Sprout: A Design Challenge. We’ve prepared this mini media kit to make it easy to share. Feel free to adapt the content for your audience!
National Sex Ed Conference
December 10–13, 2024
We’ll be in the exhibit hall giving out swag and answering any questions you might have about the upcoming Sprout: A Design Challenge.
A community garden...
Innovation starts here
The Healthy Teen Network In/Tend Incubator Innovation Hub is supported by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,886,783 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, OPA/OASH/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit opa.hhs.gov.