New Jersey's Youth Agenda

New Jersey’s Youth AgendaStrategic Planning for Youth and Young AdultsNJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development

GSETA, September 14, 2011

Purpose:

• To determine the value of addressing youth development strategically.

Outcomes:• Identify next steps to coordinate youth development

activities and move forward to achieve a shared vision.

And…………

• To explore and Identify the current situation

• To identify short and long term goals

• To determine where support may come from

• To review possible obstacles

• To outline first steps for action

Background

In May, 2011 LWD laid the groundwork to bring together a NJ Team that would focus on strengthening services to youth.

A small representative group met on May 12 to develop a baseline plan to assemble the larger team.

On June 24, a larger group was convened to continue the discussion and determine the value of moving forward .

The Youth We Serve…….Many are:

• Basic skills deficient• Homeless• Aging out of foster care• Prone to risky behavior• Parents• Unemployed or

Underemployed

And face these barriers:

• Lack of Transportation • Lack of parental involvement,

family issues and dynamics• Low life and coping skill• Lack of mentors• Delayed medical intervention• Experiencing addictions• Mental health issues

The NeedWell-designed and coordinated programs offer youth who have become disconnected from mainstream institutions and systems additional opportunities to successfully transition to adult roles and responsibilities.

The VisionThe nation’s neediest youth will acquire the talents, skills and knowledge necessary to ensure their healthy transition to successfuladult roles and responsibilities.

Objectives

New Jersey’s team was created to support the objectives of the

federal mission to ensure that communication, coordination, and

collaboration focuses on:

Developing and coordinating policy, within existing policy

structures to address the needs of disadvantaged youth.

Maximizing interagency collaborations to utilize the significant

expertise within specific Federal agency.

Coordinating research so the government can fund programs that produce results that help disadvantaged youth. Finding and elevating models of "what-works" and help replicate them nationwide.

Developing innovative model strategies that efficiently and effectively respond to the needs of disadvantaged youth.

Objectives

What We Know So Far----The Work Done to Date

Top 10 Signs of a Successful Youth

1. Equipped for a career2. Marketable skills for a

sustainable living3. High school diploma4. Self-sustaining5. Resilient, self aware,

motivated6. Career awareness,

knowledge of options

7. Wellness, addiction-free8. Work experience9. 13th Year educational

attainment10. Culturally sensitive

Top 10 Signs of a Successful System

1. Active collaboration at the policy level

2. Collaborating through shared planning, decision making, resources

3. Services not limited by funding rules

4. Leverage private resources

5. Universal comprehension of services/funding

6. Opportunity for progressive work

7. Tailors service to meet specific needs of youth

8. A shared vision9. Seamless, comprehensive

delivery10. A system that continues to

evolve and improve

Coordination/Collaboration Across Organizations

Contact Information

Lynn Logo-Keepers, State DirectorNew Jersey Youth CorpsDepartment of Labor and Workforce Development

609-292-2060Email: Elizabeth.Logo-Keepers@dol.state.nj.us