The Institute of Youth is an agency of the Government of Spain responsible for promoting youth associations and collaboration for their advancement; the development and coordination of an information and communication system for youth; the promotion of relations and international cooperation in youth affairs; as well as the cultural promotion of youth and knowledge of other cultural realities. Likewise, it is responsible for training youth in the values of solidarity and equality; the development of the social and political conditions necessary for the emancipation of young people; the promotion of actions that result in sustainable development and healthy lifestyle habits of youth; and, in general, the execution of the Health Ministry's policies regarding youth. The Institute, integrated in the Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda, through the Secretariat of State for Social Rights, is headed by a Director-General appointed by the Minister of Social Rights after hearing the Council of Ministers. The current director-general is María Teresa Pérez Díaz.
In accordance with its Statute, the Agency is organized as follows: The Institute of Youth is fully integrated in the Department of Health, being the President of the agency the Health Minister itself. The President duties are related to exercise the superior direction of the agency, to approve the general plans of actions and to chair the Governing Council. The Governing Council is a collective body integrated by the Minister of Health which chairs it, the Director-General of the Institute which acts as Deputy Chair and representatives from the INJUVE and Spanish Youth Council. The Governing Council also works through its Permanent Committee, a small representation of the Council chaired by the Director-General. However, the chief executive of the agency is the Director-General. The DG, appointed by the Minister, is responsible for planning, directing, controlling and supervising the agency activity to ensure the fulfilment of its responsibilities. From the director-general depends two departments with the rank of deputy directorates-general; the General Secretariat and the Deputy Directorate-General for Internal and External Cooperation. The Secretary-General is the second-in-command to the Director-General and it is responsible for elaborating the budget draft as well as controlling the economic and budgetary management; the management of the agency's human resources; the technical and legal assistance to the Institute and the coordination of other domestic services of the Agency. The Deputy Directorate-General for Internal and External Cooperation is responsible for promoting the agency programs as well as manage the public aids that the agency grants. The Agency also possesses a Programs Division, which elaborates and organize the agency programs and assists the Director-General on its duties as Deputy Chair of the Governing Council. The Director-General is also the head responsible for the Euro-Latin American Youth Center, the center which acts as a meeting point for youth associations from Spain, Europe and Latin America. It has its headquarters in Mollina, Spain.
The Office of Director-General was created in 1985. Prior to this, it existed the Office of Director of the Institute, which was headed by the Director-General for Youth first and by the Director-General for Youth and Socio-Cultural Promotion later, a Culture Ministry's officials.
