Strengthening Youth Policyin the States

Web-Assisted Audio-Conference

Co-Hosted by

The Forum for Youth Investment and the National Conference of State Legislatures

April 10, 2006

© 2005© 2006

The Ready by 21 Challenge:Entrusting that Every Young Person Is

Ready for College, Work and Life

Karen Pittman, Executive Director

The Forum for Youth Investment

© 2005© 2006

The Need: Well-Prepared Youth

“The continued ability of states to compete in the global economy hinges on how well they enable their younger citizens to attain the competencies and social attributes necessary to ultimately fuel economic growth and contribute to the well-being of their families and communities.”

— National Governors Association’s Center for Best PracticesOctober 2003

© 2005© 2006

Wanted: Wanted: Youth Who are Ready for Youth Who are Ready for

College, Work, LifeCollege, Work, Life

© 2005© 2006

Too Few Young People Are Ready

© 2005© 2006

We Know What It Takes to Support Development

The National Research Council reports that teens need:

• Physical and psychological safety

• Appropriate structure

• Supportive relationships

• Opportunities to belong

• Positive social norms

• Support for efficacy and mattering

• Opportunities for skill-building

• Integration of family, school and community efforts

Do these supports

really matter?

YES

© 2005© 2006

Providing these Supports Can Change the Odds

from 4 in 10 doing well

to 7 in 10 doing well*

.

Gambone/Connell’s research suggests that if all young people got the supports they needed in early

adolescence, the picture could change…

© 2005© 2006

Wanted: Wanted: Coordinated SupportsCoordinated Supports

© 2005© 2006

We Need to Think Big

Incremental change can be easier to attain, but limited policy improvements for children can frustrate policy advocates and parents when conditions for children are slow to improve.

— Who Speaks for America's Children?

© 2005© 2006

Ch

ildren

’s Services in

LA

Co

un

ty

SOURCE: Margaret Dunkle

We Need to Alter Our Response Set: … See a Problem, Convene a Task Force, Create a Program….

Has created a tangle of inefficiencies

© 2005© 2006

Why won’t Why won’t business as usual business as usual

work?work?

How do We Change fromHow do We Change fromBusiness as Usual?Business as Usual?

© 2005© 2006

Follow the Ready by 21 Roadmap for Action

• Big Tent Partnerships that embrace a

• Big Picture Vision activated through

• Big Ticket Assessments that drive strategies to net

• Big Impact Results

© 2005© 2006

Create Big Tent Partnerships:Engage All Stakeholders

Settings

ChildW elfare

JuvenileJustice

Parks &Recreation

Faith-basedcom m unities

YouthEm ploym entLibraries &

M useum s

Education

HealthCare

Youth-ServingO rganizations

SERVICESAND

SYSTEMS

ARENAS

PublicPolicy Philanthropy

PublicO pinion

Research

Practice

Advocacy

YOUTH

Fa

mil

ies C

ultu

res

Communities

SETTINGS

Child Care &

& Training

0 - 20+

© 2005© 2006

Embrace a Big Picture Vision: Develop a Mandate that Builds on What we Know Youth Need…

Communities Need to Ensure That

throughout their developmental yearsAge

Groupse.g., Early childhood, High

School, Young adults

and throughout their waking hours Time e.g., During School, After School, Summer

All Children and Youth

need constant access to a range of services, supports and opportunities Supports e.g., Basic Care, Challenging

Experiences, Relationships

in the settings where they spend time Settings e.g., Families, Youth Organizations, Schools

in ways that address challenges, strengthen skills and connections Goals e.g., Protection/Treatment,

Prevention, Preparation

in order to be well-prepared for college, work and life Outcomes e.g., Learning, Working,

Thriving, Contributing

Achieve to Their Full Potential

and get additional supports, if needed. Challenges Poverty, Race, Disability, ESL.

© 2005© 2006

Does your vision statement cover everything you want?

Communities need to ensure that throughout their

developmental years and throughout their waking

hours all children and youth have constant access to a

range of services, supports and opportunities in the

settings where they spend their time and in ways that

address challenges, strengthen skills and build

connections, in order to be well-prepared for college,

work and life; and that those young people who need

extra assistance get it.

• AGE

• TIME

• SUPPORTS

• SETTINGS

• STRATEGIES

• OUTCOMES

• CHALLENGES

© 2005© 2006

Why won’t Why won’t business as usual business as usual

work?work?

Creating anCreating anActionable VisionActionable Vision

© 2005© 2006

Develop

men

tal Areas

Early Childhood (0-5) Elementary Age (6-10) Middle School (11-14)

High School (15-19)

Young Adults (20-24)

Learning(Basic and Applied

Academics)

All Young Children Ready to

Learn

All Children Developing Basic Skills and Competencies

All Youth Are Succeeding in

School

All Young People Are Fully Prepared

for Higher Education or Work

All Young Adults Enter Workforce or

Higher Ed With Marketable Skills

Thriving(Physical Health)

All Young Children Fully Immunized

All Children Meet Physical

Standards for Developmental

Age

All Youth Develop Proper Nutrition,

Hygiene, and Exercise Routines

All Youth Are Engaged in

Physical Activity and Avoid

Risk-Compromising Behaviors

All Young Adults Have Good Health and Health Habits

Connecting

(Social/Emotional Well-Being)

All Young Children Have Appropriate Attachment

to a Significant Adult

All Children Have Positive Self Awareness,

and an Ability to Express Themselves

All Youth Engage in Socially Acceptable

Behavior and Have a Healthy Self-

Concept

All Young People Have a Sense of Independence as Well as Positive

Relationships With Those Around

Them

All Young Adults Foster Personal and Social Growth in the People In Their Lives

Working(Vocational Career

Experience)

All Young Children Have

Awareness that Adults

Work

All Children Have Positive Attitudes

Towards The Employment of Adults

in Their Lives

All Youth Are Aware of Possible

Career Paths that Give Them

Hope and Purpose

All Young People Make a Successful

Transition to Adulthood

All Young Adults Are Employed With a Living Wage And

Benefits

Leading(Civic and

Community Engagement)

All Young Children Feel Supported By a

Community Around Them

All Children Accept Rules and

Social Boundaries

All Youth Demonstrate Attitudes and

Behaviors of Civic Responsibility

All Young People Are Involved in

Programs to Give Back

All Young Adults Are Making a Difference in Their Community

… find ways to define outcomes that cut across the age span

© 2005© 2006

Create Big Ticket Assessments: Take Stock of all Efforts Using a Set of Organized Assessment tools…

Pre–K0–5

Children6–12

Youth13–19

Young Adults20–24

Families and Communities

Ready for College

Learning

Ready for Work

Working

Ready for Life

Thriving

Connecting

Leading

© 2005© 2006

…and Set a Shared Goal to Change the Odds

Pre–K0–5

Children6–12

Youth13–19

Young Adults20–24

Families and Communities

Ready for College

Learning

Ready for Work

Working

Ready for Life

Thriving

Connecting

Leading

Pre–K0–5

Children6–12

Youth13–19

Young Adults20–24

Families and Communities

Ready for College

Learning

Ready for Work

Working

Ready for Life

Thriving

Connecting

Leading

shifting red to yellow, yellow to

green

Big Picture Change Planning

© 2005© 2006

What Do You Want to Take Stock Of?

• Child and Youth Well Being (e.g., Child Report Cards)

• Program Availability (e.g., Program Inventories)

• Program Quality (e.g., Program Evaluations)

• System Effectiveness (e.g., Performance Measure Reports)

• Policy Priorities (e.g., Policy Benchmarks)

• Amount and Allocation of Funding (e.g., Children’s Budgets)

• Stakeholder Perceptions (e.g., Key Informant Interviews)

• Public Will (e.g., Polling, Focus Groups)

• Political Will (e.g., Political Leadership Assessment)

© 2005© 2006

Issues may dominate

discussions but strategies drive

change

Expect Big Impact Results: Encourage Strong Efforts on All Fronts to Ensure Lasting Change

Improve/Coordinate Systems & Services

Align Policies & Resources –

Public and Private

Increase Demand for more & Better

Supports

Engage Youth, Families &

Community Adults

Changed Odds for

Children and Youth