Disconnected youth reside in every school district in our

county. It is not a white, black or brown problem: it is a

problem that affects all of us.

C O N T E N T S Overture

Small Steps ……………………………………………… pg. 02 Patrick Naswell, VP of Community Impact, Community Foundation of Greater Flint Community of Purpose ………………………………… pg. 03 William Haley, Superintendent, Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools Broken Dreams…………………………………………. pg. 04 Rickey Hampton, President of Project 26, Former Flint Journal Sportswriter & Columnist

Our Children………..……..……………………………. pg. 06 Amy E. Krug, President and Executive Director, Priority Children Our Collective Work……..…………………………….. pg. 08 Jack Kresnak, President and CEO, Michigan’s Children

You Are the Change……..…………………………….. pg. 10 Kenyetta Dotson, Community Action Network

Hidden Crisis Overview ……………………………………………….. . pg. 11 The Initiative ………….……..…………………………. . pg. 13 Survey …………………………………………………... pg. 14

The Challenge ……………………………….………… . pg. 16 The Opportunity ………………….……………………. . pg. 21 Action Steps……………………….……………………. pg. 22

Get Involved …..…….………….………………………. pg. 25 Members ………………………………….............................. pg. 26 Genesee County Out-of-School Youth Initiative Workgroup

References ………………………………………………..…... pg. 27

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S M A L L S T E P S

Patrick Naswell Vice President of Community Impact Community Foundation of Greater Flint Genesee County boasts an impressive network of agencies and programs serving vulnerable youth.

Why then should there be a special focus on disconnected youth ages 16 through 24? Simply stated,

this group of young people has a set of special needs that are not being met by existing programs.

As detailed in this report, helping disconnected, transitional age young people become productive,

contributing members of society will produce substantial economic and social benefits for all Genesee

County, as well as for youth themselves. The issue of “disconnected youth” must be understood as a

countywide challenge that must be solved with the involvement of all stakeholders.

We must begin with acknowledging that the status quo – thousands of youth left behind – is

unacceptable and that solutions must be bold, systemic, and collaborative. Every sector of Genesee

County and every youth-serving system must be mobilized to be part of the solution. The challenges

facing our vulnerable youth are too complex for any single organization to address in isolation. Our

commitment must involve rethinking relationships, and collective responsibility. The answer is not more

programs, it’s structuring systems and policies that don’t allow the holes through which vulnerable youth

currently fall.

Working together strategically will produce the best outcomes and will make the most efficient use of

limited resources. When individuals and organizations representing the fabric of Genesee County

communities come together in collaboration they move us to greater strength.

I invite you to explore this report and learn more about the Out-of-School Youth Initiative. I also urge you

to join us to help every vulnerable young person in Genesee County reach their highest potential in

pursuit of education and a career.

No action is too small. In fact, it is the small steps taken together that will produce the largest change.

“We must begin with acknowledging that the status quo – thousands of youth left behind – is

unacceptable and that solutions must be bold, systemic, and collaborative. Every sector of

Genesee County and every youth-serving system must be mobilized to be part of the solution.”

Page | 03

C O M M U N I T Y O F P U R P O S E William Haley Superintendent Carman-Ainsworth School District

Against the backdrop of economic conditions that are literally reshaping the capacity of communities to

provide even the most basic public services, communities that aspire to not just survive, but thrive, must

become very intentional in identifying, prioritizing and addressing their most vital needs. No matter

where a community may be economically or socially, the development of a collective spirit is

fundamental to positive change. The will to work together, as epitomized by our nation’s post 9/11 spirit,

can enable any community to become a community of purpose, capable of addressing any challenge or

need.

After participating for over a year in a very broadly based community group that has been studying a

growing population of young adults in our county who are 16 to 24 years old and do not have diplomas

and do not have jobs, I am convinced that Genesee County’s path to viability must include intentional

efforts to help these young people re-connect. We must move past the notion that these young people

“made choices and choices have consequences.” A community of purpose does not focus on whether

children failed or the people entrusted to lead the children failed. Rather, a community of purpose

mobilizes their collective will to address any and all failure with opportunities for success.

The position paper you are about to read reflects the collective knowledge and insight of a wide array of

community members representing health and welfare services, education, philanthropy, public safety,

the justice system, and most importantly, young adults who are currently “disconnected.” The purpose

of the position paper is to raise Genesee County’s consciousness about this critical need, to explore

some potential strategies that can change the trajectory of lives in jeopardy, and finally, to mobilize a

sustained effort in Genesee County to do whatever it takes to engage all of our citizens as individuals

with the capacity to add value to our community.

“A community of purpose does not focus on whether children failed or the people entrusted to lead the children failed. Rather, a community of purpose mobilizes their collective will to address

any and all failure with opportunities for success.”

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B R O K E N D R E A M S Rickey Hampton President, Project 26 Former Flint Journal Sportswriter and Columnist This should be one of the greatest times in history to be young.

We live in a time where simply pushing one computer button can connect you with the world. We have

medicines that can cure diseases that once meant certain death. Our lives have been made infinitely

better by ever burgeoning technology that has pushed us into a new, exciting place in time that has no

limit.

And, for the first time in history, we can now seriously say that every young person has the potential to

do anything – witness the election of President Barack Obama. Unquestionably, this should be one of

the greatest times to be young. However, there is a segment of our society that is, quite literally, living in

peril. They are uneducated, untrained, unskilled, and ultimately poor. In Genesee County there more

than 7,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who fit this description. They are living in

desperate times, which sometimes force them into desperate measures, including crime and violence.

As Genesee County looks to its rebirth, it will never be able to reach its full potential until these 7,000

young people become contributing members of the community. “It’s stressful on the streets when you

don’t know where your next meal will come from,” said a 17-year-old male who, along with several other

Genesee County youth, was interviewed as an integral part of the Genesee County Out-of-School Youth

Initiative.

“I know a lot of people that are like that. We are jobless! Young ghetto kids coming from the streets have

a lot of opportunities to get in trouble. If you don’t have your head on straight, you might get killed.”

When you listen to young people in Genesee County talk, violence and the possibility of dying young is a

way of life. On the streets, someone who has been around a long time, an “Old Head,” is someone who

reaches the age of 25. More than a few are incarcerated or dead by that time. “It’s like living in Iraq,”

said an 18 year-old male. “Everybody is dying.”

“There is a segment of our society that is, quite literally, living in peril. They are uneducated,

untrained, unskilled, and ultimately poor….they are living in desperate times, which sometimes forces

them into desperate measures, including crime and violence.”

Page | 05

Many of the interviewed youth have not finished high school, do not have jobs, have family members in

the correctional system, and have been involved in the judicial system themselves. Nearly all of them

have witnessed an act of violence.

The fact is, in Genesee County, seeing violence is not unusual. In reality, some are numbed to it. When

asked how it felt to witness a violent act, an 18-year-old male responded. “I don’t have any feelings

about it. I have no feelings.” It’s sad to think a young man would have to gird himself to the point where

he becomes ambivalent to violence. The young people we spoke to have said there is really no other

choice; on the street it is considered a sign of weakness to do otherwise.

“The bad stuff is the good stuff for people to do now,” explained a female, age 18. “The peer pressure is

there to do drugs and to be involved with gangs. And, if you don’t join the gangs, they will beat you up.”

Young girls say they feel pressure to join girl gangs, in addition to the sexual pressure they get from boy

gangs.

Yet, despite the challenges they face, many of these youth remain hopeful and determined. An 18-year-

old girl, who is currently living with her boyfriend and on food stamps, eventually hopes to attend college

and major in biology. Perhaps she will attain her goal, and be among the fortunate few who overcome

the many obstacles that have been placed before them.

More than likely, however, when they find that success, they will do so in an area outside of Genesee

County. Young people do not believe their future is in Genesee County. If that attitude persists, the

county could face a serious talent drain. Sadly, those who escape what is, at best, a life of despair will

be a precious few. The battle will simply be too tough for most.

But these lives could be saved. Without exception, young boys and girls are looking for a better way of

life. They are thirsting for someone to lead them and show them there is an alternative to the mean

streets of Flint and Genesee County.

Success depends on the degree to which every sector of the community commits to being involved in

addressing this issue. We all have a stake in the success of Genesee County’s youth. They are the

future of our community.

“Many of the interviewed youths have not finished high school, do not have jobs, have family

members in the correctional system, and have been involved in the judicial system themselves. Nearly

all of them have witnessed an act of violence.”

“… these lives could be saved. Without exception, young boys and girls are looking for a better way of

life. They are thirsting for someone to lead them and show them there is an alternative…”

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O U R C H I L D R E N Amy E. Krug President and Executive Director Priority Children As this report shows, far too many of our young people are failing to obtain what has long been

recognized as an official symbol of entry into adulthood, a high school diploma.

Genesee County boasts an impressive network of programs serving vulnerable children and adults. Why

then should there be a special report focusing on disconnected youth ages 16 through 24? Simply,

because we know that this is the last critical period of transition for young people.

Success or failure at this key point will more than likely determine many of the life choices these youth

will make for their entire future.

These young men and women are from every corner of our community, both urban and rural, and they

are joined by one simple fact, that we have failed to provide them with the support required to succeed.

This support must come from the collective involvement of schools, communities and most importantly,

the families of these youth.

Each students needs are unique. The days of a cookie cutter, one-size fits all approach are gone. We

can no longer accept the assumption that a certain percentage of students are destined to fail regardless

of our efforts!

“Ensuring that our youth have the skills and supports they need is not about charity; it is about

investing in our community’s most precious resource - our children."

“The days of a cookie cutter, one-size fits all approach are long gone as each student’s needs

are individually unique.”

Page | 07

As an active, engaged and mobilized community we must find ways to improve developmental outcomes

for ALL of our children, youth and young adults. By integrating and improving existing systems we can

form a seamless web of support at key points in the lives of our children. We must cooperate at all levels

including, families, neighborhoods, organizations, and community, to support the development of our

young people.

Finally, helping disconnected youth achieve their goals to become productive, socially and economically

connected will produce enormous social benefits for the youth themselves and for all Genesee County.

Young adults who are out of school and out of the workforce contribute little to the economy. Rather, as

a group, they impose significant social costs, including criminal activity and the use of very expensive

public services. Ensuring that our youth have the skills and supports they need is not about charity; it is

about investing in our community’s most precious resource - our children.

Michigan could see a $6 billion boost in its economy by cutting the number

of dropouts in half. 27

A new high school dropout in 2000 had less than a 50% chance of getting a job.

That job earned less than 1/2 of what the same job

earned 20 years ago.

Lack of education is ever more strongly correlated with welfare dependency, ill health,

and incarceration. 27

In Michigan, new jobs that require post-secondary education will grow by 116,000 by 2018, while jobs for high school graduates

and dropouts will grow only by 22,000.

Of the 1.3 million job vacancies (expected to occur) in Michigan between 2008 and 2018,

836,000 will require some training and education past high school. Sixty-two percent of all jobs in Michigan will require some post-secondary

training by 2018. 27

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O U R C O L L E C T I V E W O R K Jack Kresnak President and CEO Michigan’s Children The state of Michigan, as clearly evidenced in Genesee County, is at a crossroads. We face a nearly

unprecedented economic crisis, the result of more than a decade of job loss (more than 750,000 since

2000) and continued erosion of the state’s economy. Once one of the wealthiest states in per capita

income, Michigan is projected to be among the ten poorest in 2010 (37th in 2009) and state revenues

are now below 1971 levels. There has never been a more critical time to make sure that young people

get the support, education and training that they need to help drive economic recovery.

This report sheds light on the group of 16 to 24-year-olds in Genesee County who don’t have diplomas

or jobs. While their circumstances are perhaps hidden, their impact in communities is hard felt.

The economic, social, and fiscal consequences of dropping out of school—unemployment, poverty,

substance abuse, incarceration, poor health, to name a few—are profound and unacceptable.

In addition, high school dropouts face a labor market that is becoming more and more difficult to

successfully navigate. As Genesee County communities know all too well, this reality translates as

forgone tax revenue, as well as higher monetary and social costs. Michigan’s economy is dependent on

making sure that more young people are well prepared for post-secondary work and life.

Here’s what we know:

It is tougher to be a young person out of school and work in Michigan than in the rest of the nation. In 2006, Michigan dropouts ages 16-19 were 30 percent more likely to be

unemployed than those who lacked that credential elsewhere. Frighteningly, that was before the

state’s economy sunk deeper into recession and unemployment rates escalated for the entire

population.

Dropping out is getting more expensive over time. While it is commonly recognized that a

high school diploma alone is not worth what it was in past decades, Michigan communities have

seen a more significant decline than those in other states.

“As Genesee County communities know all too well, this reality translates as forgone tax revenue,

as well as higher monetary and social costs. Michigan’s economy is dependent on making sure

that more young people are well prepared for post-secondary work and life.”

Page | 09

Diplomas impact more than income. In addition to losses in earning potential, lack of a high

school diploma is also associated with declines in marriage rates, and corresponding rates of

non-marital births, negative health outcomes and home ownership. 33

While we are concerned, we don’t despair. In many ways, Michigan and Genesee County are well

positioned to take on the challenge of out-of-school youth. We have better data systems in place, we

know more about the causes of educational failure and high school dropout, and we better understand

what keeps kids in school until graduation and brings them back to a credential after they have left.

Further, the private sector is engaged, supporting research and innovation in Michigan and around the

nation, and there is renewed public sector attention.

The hard work in Genesee County to formulate and fight for best practices to better serve young people

is part of a national effort and is networked to communities around the nation through the work of

Michigan’s Children and other state and national partners. This networking strengthens all of our ability

to build on innovation around the state and the country, and creates mechanisms for community

partners to change the systems that currently fail the young people we are talking about. Young people

around the state and nation will benefit from the work of this community.

Michigan’s Children is a statewide, independent voice for children and their families. We work with

lawmakers, business leaders and communities to make Michigan a place where all children have the

opportunity to thrive. One of Michigan’s Children’s top priorities is to ensure that all Michigan children are

ready for post-secondary education, work and life.

“While we are concerned, we don’t despair. In many ways, Michigan and Genesee County are well

positioned to take on the challenge of out-of-school youth.”

Page | 10

Y O U A R E T H E C H A N G E Kenyetta Dotson Community Action Network Over the past few years, our communities have endured more pain and heartache than we care to

admit. Each of us, in some way, has been effected by the crime and violence that has devastated our

neighborhoods and severely effected the lives of our youth.

The pain felt by the mothers, fathers, and families of each young person whose life has been cut short

by senseless violence is our pain. Their loss is truly our loss.

No longer can we run or be afraid to address and respond to the issues that have corrupted so many of

our most vulnerable youth. Turning a blind eye and acting as though the issues don’t exist, will only

prolong the problem with devastating results.

When communities join together, neighbors watch out for one another, and individuals stand up for what

is right, we function as a community bound together by our passion, concern, and belief in our youth.

Each time we truly collaborate with others, it causes us to rethink traditional roles, the invisible lines that

keep us separated, and to eliminate the hidden agendas that prevent us from working together.

Now, more than ever, we must forge new relationships to form a strong force comprised of diverse

partners. We are able to address the complex and urgent challenges facing our youth, which at one

point seemed insurmountable, with innovation, coordination, and a hands-on approach. Together we can

enhance and improve the quality of life for disadvantaged youth and families throughout our

communities.

The first step of our plan is to raise our voices and generate action within our community.

Change begins with YOU!

“Turning a blind eye and acting as though the issues don’t exist, will only prolong the problem

with devastating results.”

Page | 11

O V E R V I E W

While most youth in Genesee County successfully transition to adulthood, many youth ages 16 to 24,

who are neither in school nor the workforce, experience challenges in making this transition. Some of

these youth are more likely than others to remain low-income, to lose jobs during economic downturns

and to engage in criminal activities or antisocial behavior, and to become parents in their teens. These

are Genesee County’s “disconnected youth.” They lack the skills, supports, knowledge, or opportunities

they need to succeed.

Disconnected youth encompass a broad population that may include students that dropout, homeless

and runaway youth, incarcerated youth, or youth who have aged out of the foster care system. Youth of

different races and ethnicities are represented among this population. However, research studies show

that African-American males constitute a disproportionate share.

Many young women also become disconnected in order to assume parenting responsibilities. In

addition, the risk of disconnection is particularly high among youth with emotional disturbances and

learning disabilities, many of whom have not mastered basic literacy skills. These youth have higher

dropout rates and poorer employment outcomes.

The time between ages 16 and 24 is developmentally important, as young people prepare to take on

adult responsibilities. This is the time to lay the foundation for successful labor market participation and

civic responsibility through exposure to the broader community, high school graduation, access to

postsecondary education, and progressively challenging employment experiences.

“Disconnected youth encompass a broad population that may include students that dropout, homeless and runaway youth, incarcerated youth,

or youth who have aged out of the foster care system.”

Page | 12

Current school reform efforts, while much needed and long overdue, most likely will not touch this

segment of the population who are no longer on the school rolls, are too old for traditional school

settings, lack academic skills and credits, and are in need of much different kinds of support. Addressing

the needs of this population will require innovation.

Public systems and youth serving agencies must engage with education, business, industry, and

disconnected youth themselves to structure pathways that support the transition from the streets to the

classrooms, to hands-on learning and service environments, to college campuses, to leadership

opportunities, to apprenticeships and internships, and ultimately to opportunities in the workplace that

lead to economic success and lifelong citizenship.

This paper – a collaborative product of the Out-of-School Youth Initiative Workgroup - examines the

extent to which Genesee County is prepared to meet this challenge and offers recommendations for

future action.

It also is a clarion call to all Genesee County residents to positively intervene in the lives of our

disconnected youth – to “reclaim” them from anti-social pulls that have disconnected them from their

families, schools, communities, and their futures.

“In 2008, the number of residents with at least some college who left Genesee County totaled

6,595. Of these residents, 3,778 had at least some college or associate’s degree; 1,789 had earned

a bachelor’s degree, and 1,028 a graduate or professional degree.” 3

“Based on median income earned during the same year by residents with at least some college,

Genesee County suffered a loss of $203 million in gross income due to these individuals

Leaving the county.” 4

Page |13

T H E I N I T I A T I V E The Genesee County Out-of-School Youth Initiative is part of an ongoing effort supported by the C.S.

Mott Foundation to help all youth, including those traditionally underserved, make a successful transition

to adulthood. The Community foundation of Greater flint serves as the projects fiscal agent here in

Genesee County.

In 2006, the Foundation initiated that effort in the Michigan counties of Genesee, Kent, and Kalamazoo,

and the city of Detroit. Michigan’s Children, a statewide, independent voice for children and their

families, serves as technical advisor to the Michigan project communities. The Community Foundation of

Greater Flint serves as the project’s fiscal sponsor here in Genesee County.

Workgroup members meet monthly to develop open communications, person-to-person links, to share

programming challenges or ideas, and to design local strategies to support disconnected youth. The

partnership is integrally tied to a process of relationship building – a community of practice - defined as a

group of individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives who share a concern, set of problems,

or a passion for something they do. Together they learn how to do it better as they interact on an

ongoing basis.

The goal of the workgroup: Create awareness of the disconnected youths’ challenges in Genesee County and mobilize public and

private support to improve educational and career opportunities for this population.

The collective investment created by this cross-community collaboration provides the leverage

necessary to combat the status-quo, ensure movement, and encourage innovation. By working

collaboratively, participants seek to help each other overcome the social, financial, and political

challenges standing in the way of meaningful reform.

While recognizing the importance of interventions that target at-risk children and youth at various stages

of their development, the workgroup maintains a tight focus on disconnected youth, ages 16-24. This is

based on the scarcity of countywide programs and services – specifically aimed at reconnecting

vulnerable youth in this age group to get them back on track to economic self-sufficiency and productive

adulthood.

“The goal of the workgroup: Create awareness of the disconnected youths’ challenges in Genesee County and mobilize public and private support to improve educational and career opportunities

for this population.”

Page | 14

S U R V E Y

To inform its work, in March of 2009, the Genesee County Out-of-School Youth Initiative Workgroup

surveyed public and private agencies and programs in the County to assess their capacity to meet the

needs of disconnected youth. Less than a third of those surveyed indicated some degree of interaction

with disconnected youth, with the majority of that number indicating only marginal involvement.

Key survey findings include:

There is no organized system for recovery and re-engagement of disconnected youth. The

responsibility has fallen predominately to providers who are, in most instances, underfunded,

fragmented, and serve only a small portion of the need.

Approximately 38% of programs and agencies serving disconnected youth have a “significant”

waiting list for their services. Some disconnected youth in need of programs and services have

to wait up to three months for an initial appointment.

The complexity of multifaceted issues experienced by disconnected youth is a common

challenge faced by providers.

Unpredictable year-to-year funding levels create significant challenges for respondents

attempting to keep pace with demand for services and to plan for the future.

The dispersed nature of programs and services poses significant barriers for young people who

lack the resources and resiliency to navigate complex systems.

Disconnected youth are unaware of existing programs and services. Approximately 85% become

aware through “word of mouth.”

There is no comprehensive direction or countywide policy regarding budget and programmatic

priorities with respect to this population. While many city and county departments and

“The dispersed nature of programs and services poses significant barriers for young people who

lack the resources and resiliency to navigate complex public systems.”

“Disconnected youth are unaware of existing programs and services.’’

“There is no unified outreach approach to contact and work with disconnected youths. As a result,

many fall between the cracks.”

Page | 15

community-based organizations provide services to this population, too often they do so in

isolation from each other and without accountability to a clearly articulated set of desired results

across systems and programs.

It is too difficult and; therefore, too rare for agencies focused on this age group to share

information with one another. Agency databases rarely “talk” to each other for bureaucratic,

resource, and technological reasons, as well as issues related to confidentiality.

Communications and information-sharing between programs and services is a major need.

There is no unified outreach approach to contact and work with disconnected youth, so many fall

between the cracks. Although there are outreach and support initiatives that target youth who

are at-risk, there is no countywide or system-wide outreach and referral mechanism.

“It is too difficult and; therefore, too rare for agencies focused on this age group to share information with one another.

Agency databases rarely “talk” to each other for bureaucratic, resource, and technological reasons, as well as issues related

to confidentiality. Communications and information-sharing between programs and services is a major need.”

Page | 16

T H E C H A L L E N G E There are over 50,000 youth ages 16 to 24 living in Genesee County. 7 A majority of these youth will

make a successful transition to adulthood. They will complete high school, find jobs, maintain stable

housing, manage their finances, and develop meaningful family and social relationships.

Best estimates show that without intervention 7,114, or 14 percent, of Genesee County young people in

this age group who are either not in school, without a job, or otherwise not connected to community

supports will not make a successful transition. 8

This figure does not include youth in the target population who have simply given up looking for jobs

because of a lack of job prospects. These individuals stay at home or roam their communities because

of lost hope. The lure of street life, gangs or illicit activities, is ever-present.

Disconnected youth are at risk for a number of negative long-term outcomes such as: prolonged

unemployment, difficulty getting and keeping a job, lower lifetime income, lack of health insurance,

homelessness, and involvement with the juvenile or adult justice systems. 9, 10 These outcomes are often

replicated in the children of disconnected youth.

Compared to their peers in the general population, disconnected youth are trapped in deep, long-term

poverty. Children growing up in poor households may go without the basics of adequate nutrition, health

care, and housing. Parents preoccupied with economic hardships or personal struggles may also be

unable or unwilling to provide the sustained nurturing, guidance, and supervision that children need.

A range of studies have found that having a parent who is unemployed is significantly correlated with

whether a youth graduates from high school, goes to college, gets a job, and how much they get paid for

that job. 11

Female and minority youth and those who have been involved with the foster care, juvenile justice, and

special education systems, either recently or in the past, are at greater risk for disconnection than are

other youth. 12

Page | 17

Many disconnected youth have extremely low basic skill levels. Others are more prepared but still need

assistance making the transition to work and/or further schooling. More than 80 percent of Michigan

students are graduating from high school without the skills to tackle college-level work. 15

In Michigan’s community colleges, it is estimated that 60 percent of first-time students need at least one

remedial course. National data suggest that one in five students at four-year colleges seek remedial

coursework as well. It is a costly problem; in Michigan more than $28 million is spent in remediation at

the community college level alone. 16

Just 18 percent of last year’s high school graduates in Michigan were prepared for college-level

English.7 Literacy is the gateway to success in any course. Low literacy levels translate into poor grades,

grade repetition, and eventual disinterest in school, all of which tend to precede a student’s decision to

drop out.

Other characteristics exhibited by youth at risk of dropping out of school and/or disconnection include

one or more of the following: 17

Truancy, attitude, discipline problems in school

Low self esteem

Teen pregnancy

Involvement in violence

Learning disabilities and related conditions

Lack of positive role models

Drug or substance abuse

Physical or mental health issues

Detachment from positive social networks

Conflict between home and school culture

One out of three working age adults in Michigan, or 1.7 million people, cannot read well enough to be

hired for a job that will support a family. More than 40% of those potential workers, who read below a sixth grade level, also lack a high school diploma

or GED. 14

Page | 18

Without intervention the number of Genesee County disconnected youth can be expected to increase

annually based on the number of teenage school dropouts.

Fourteen percent of students (1,105 of a total of 6,686) who started as ninth graders in all Genesee

County schools in the Fall of 2004 left school before graduating with their class in the Spring of 2008.19

Researchers have found that a substantial portion of students leave school for other-than-academic

reasons, including life circumstances such as needing to work, pregnancy and parenting, or caring for

other family members.

Already dim employment prospects for disconnected youths – 86 percent of Genesee County teenagers

who drop out from school were unemployed in 2008 – are exacerbated by Michigan’s and Genesee

County’s turbulent economy and its projected course over the next several years. 20

The recession has pulled many adults into the scramble for jobs typically held by teens. For lower-

income teens, a summer or part-time job is often a stepping stone to gain access to high-skill, better

paying positions.

Genesee County’s unemployment rate reached 16.3 percent in March 2010, the highest among

Michigan’s metro areas. The state’s unemployment rate was 14.9 percent for the same month. 21

“Already dim employment prospects for these disconnected youths – 86 percent of Genesee

County teenagers who drop out from school were unemployed in 2008 – are exacerbated by

Michigan’s and Genesee County’s turbulent economy and its projected course over

the next several years.”

Page | 19

In past decades our assembly lines and manufacturing plants provided access to good jobs with good

wages for high school dropouts. Few such opportunities exist today for anyone who is undereducated

and unskilled. According to the experts, future jobs will be found in high-skill careers. Less well-educated

young people have narrow opportunities for success in such a job market.

Michigan endured its worst year for unemployment in more than 25 years in 2009. Not since 1982 had

the jobless rate exceeded the 2009 rate, and the number of Michiganders reported as out of work

averaged 680,000. 22

It is estimated that, by the time Michigan begins to pull out of the current economic downturn, the state

will have lost nearly 1 million jobs – or about one in every five jobs that existed in mid-2000. A prediction

by the Pew Center on the States is more bleak, stating that even a full-blown economic recovery

wouldn’t recapture the jobs Michigan has lost for another 15 to 20 years. 23

The disconnected youth challenge also has a direct relationship to the level of violence in Genesee

County. Youth in this age range are disproportionately the perpetrators and victims of violence. Law

enforcement agencies, which have frequent contact with disconnected youth and have the potential to

be positive agents, rarely have the resources to do more than arrest and incarcerate. Adult probation

clients in Genesee County include a high percentage of dropouts and an increasing number of unwed

mothers. An estimated 80 percent of probationers suffer from one or more of the following issues

including: alcoholism, drug abuse, mental health issues, or depression. 24

“In past decades, our assembly lines and manufacturing plants provided access to good jobs with good wages for high school dropouts. Few such opportunities exist today for those who are

uneducated and unskilled. Future jobs, according to the experts, will be found in high-skills careers. Less well-educated young people

have narrow opportunities for success in such a job market.” 10

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According to 7th District Family Court Judge Duncan Beagle, “As Michigan communities continue to face

a severe financial crisis, taxpayers will be further burdened because many young people will go into

expensive juvenile residential programs or slip into our vast adult prison system, serving out lengthy

sentences.” 26

Every Genesee County resident has a stake in this struggle. When our young people lack the skills that

local industries need and are unable to support themselves, we all bear the financial costs of a weaker

economy, smaller tax base, and higher expenditures on public benefits. When youth are not engaged in

school and work, our communities are less vibrant and more divided.

The next generation risks being permanently weakened and thereby detracting from the entire

community for decades to come. Significant concentrations of disconnected youth tarnish the appeal of

Genesee County and its communities for economic development activity.

“As Michigan communities continue to face severe financial crisis, taxpayers will be further burdened because many young people will go into expensive juvenile residential programs or slip into our vast

adult prison system.”

“Every Genesee County resident has a stake in this struggle. When our young people lack the skills that local industries need and are unable to support themselves, we all bear the financial costs of a

weaker economy, smaller tax base, and higher expenditures on public benefits. When youths are not engaged in school and work, our

communities are less vibrant and more divided.”

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T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y

Disconnected youth are a challenging population to serve; however, real change is possible. Providing

disconnected youth with the support they need to make a successful transition to adulthood will

contribute to the county’s labor force, reduce social expenditures, enhance the quality of our

neighborhoods and improve the quality for life of all Genesee County residents.

In addition to direct interventions for disconnected youth, we need to put in place a system that interrupts

the cycle of self-perpetuating dysfunctionality that continues to produce this problem. If this effort is to

succeed, the disconnected youth crisis must overcome its current status as a hidden crisis. Only one in

10 members of the American public believe the disconnected youth problem is a crisis.17 Parents and

community members often see the disconnected youth crisis as a reflection of the individual character of

the young person rather than a communitywide, systemic failure.

Disconnected youth are often perceived as unmotivated, antagonistic, or even threatening. However,

individuals who advocate for, and work with, disconnected youth and those at-risk of disconnection on a

daily basis have many times witnessed the transformation of attitude, identity, skills, and aspirations for

a better future that come with the right set of opportunities and experiences. This tremendous pool of

talent and potential, if properly supported and channeled, can greatly contribute to Genesee County’s

ability to fuel its economy and build its communities in the 21st century.

“…individuals who advocate for, and work with, disconnected youth and those at-risk of

disconnection on a daily basis have many times witnessed the transformation of attitude, identity,

skills, and aspirations for a better future that come with the right set of opportunities

and experiences.”

“Parents and community members often see the disconnected youth crisis as a reflection of the individual character of the young person rather

than a communitywide, systemic failure.”

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A C T I O N S T E P S The Genesee County Out-of-School Youth Initiative Workgroup has adopted the following priority action

steps to both guide their ongoing work and to solicit the meaningful involvement of a broad range of

stakeholders in successfully addressing the disconnected youth challenge. As more individuals who

represent the diversity of Genesee County’s people and organizations join the process, they bring new

ideas, skills, and resources that can provide new approaches to old problems.

Make disconnected youths a priority in Genesee County and mobilize the support of key stakeholders: Build public and private sector awareness of the magnitude of the

disconnected youth challenge and the understanding that the disconnected youth challenge

is not an isolated issue but a much broader societal issue that affects the quality of life and

economic vitality of Genesee County. Government officials should direct all relevant

departments to work in tandem to support state and local efforts in bridging systems and

funding streams to connect youth to educational and labor market success.

Loosen the regulations around the sharing of data so that schools and youth-serving agencies and organizations can identify and respond quickly to the needs of disconnected youths and those at-risk of disconnection: Establish a countywide, or

statewide, Disconnected Youth Data Collaborative comprised of public and private

institutions and agencies to collect and share relevant data and information across systems.

Advocate for policies and practices that aid school completion and employment outcomes: Develop a set of core policy and practice principles on educational and

employment options for disconnected youth and inform local and state policy discussions on

the issues and needs of such youth.

View disconnected youth as resources: A narrow focus on disconnected youth merely as

problems to be fixed further erodes their self-esteem, deepens their sense of alienation, and

overlooks their potential to be part of the solution to both personal and community problems.

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The voices of disconnected youth need to be heard and taken fully into account in the

planning and implementation of policies and programs that affect them.

Design and implement an age and culturally appropriate multimedia communications campaign to provide disconnected youth up-to-date information of available sources of help and the ways to access them: Too many disconnected youth in Genesee County

are unaware of existing services, lack knowledge of where to go for help, and are confused

and frustrated by program eligibility issues.

Increase business engagement: The business community has an economic interest in

reducing the number of disconnected youth in Genesee County. Business participation is

needed to: a) show young people the importance of school completion to be ready for the

modern workforce, b) ensure that workforce development programs are geared to the needs

of disconnected youth, and c) ensure that the skills set taught disconnected youth are

aligned with present and emerging industry needs and standards.

Address obstacles to employment: In neighborhoods with entrenched poverty, the kinds

of infrastructure and services that disconnected youth need in order to find and sustain

employment may be limited. Workforce development efforts need to help disconnected youth

address barriers to work, including physical and mental health problems, drug and alcohol

addictions, or domestic violence. Practical or legal problems, such as inadequate

transportation, lack of child care, or criminal records may also impede employment.

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Provide additional resources to schools and programs serving the hardest-to-serve students: While the Michigan Merit Curriculum has been highly praised, educators

sometimes struggle to implement the higher standards without increased funding to support

students who need additional assistance in meeting the rigorous requirements. Alternative

schools often attempt to serve the most hard-to-reach students with fewer resources than

traditional public schools.

Create an online clearing house and resource center: Develop an online clearinghouse

and resource center that can a) quickly assess and direct clients to appropriate resources

and b) collect information on what is already being done for disconnected youth around the

country that is applicable to Genesee County and disseminate the information to local

service providers.

Provide focused assistance to youth aging out of foster care: Many 18-year-olds leave

the foster care system without a lasting family connection and at risk for later hardship.

These vulnerable young people need comprehensive preparation for adulthood – a

sustained, strategic, developmentally appropriate approach to helping them transition

successfully to independence and gain the wide range of skills they need to successfully

continue their education and/or make initial steps on a career path.

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G E T I N V O L V E D

This report sets forth the vision and commitment of the Out-of-School Youth Initiative Workgroup, a

broad range of partners who have shared their ideas and put aside their differences to address this

crucial issue.

It is a call to action – to chart a new course that will allow us to save lives and build futures for

disconnected youth, their families, and Genesee County. While we can never fully recover the promise

and productivity of youth lost in previous years, we can commit ourselves to the creation of new and

accessible pathways that will help current and future youth return to school and enter the workforce. The

time has come to expand the issue of disconnected youth from a single concern about helping individual

youth to a much broader societal issue. Some people will not be able to see the impact today, but it will

be hard to miss in a few years.

Genesee County’s economic future hinges on the investments made with our children and youth. The

research is clear; the single best predictor of economic prosperity is a community’s success in educating

and preparing its workforce. Youth who are connected to our community in positive ways reap benefits

for themselves and society. Those who remain disconnected will continue to drain resources for public

services with little or no contribution.

As stated by Judge Duncan Beagle:

“While our young need to be held accountable for their actions, as a community we cannot give up on

them. Each one of us needs to reach out, to teach them, and let them know we care. If we do not, the

streets will.”

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M E M B E R S

The following individuals and organizations represent the growing list of contributors to the Genesee County Out-of-School Youth Initiative Workgroup. April Alexander Parent

James Gaskin Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint

Patrick Naswell Community Foundation of Greater Flint

Leanne Barkus Mott Community College

William Haley Carman-Ainsworth School District

Annette O’Malley Beecher Schools

Honorable Duncan Beagle Family Court Judge

Rickey Hampton Project 26

Shannon Polk C.S. Mott Foundation

Gloria Bourdon Genesee Intermediate School District

Latrelle W. Holmes, Sr. Greater Galilee Baptist Church

Joel Rash Downtown ARCH

Terrence Clark Flint Housing Commission

Sylvester Jones Ruth Mott Foundation

Brian Ross Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

Lisa Coleman Genesee County Community Mental Health

Diana Kelly United Way of Genesee County

Beverly Schumer Baker College of Flint

Linda Cottrell Consultant

Mike Kiefer Project Coordinator

Mona Sahouri Arab American Heritage Council

Craig Coney Career Alliance

Sue Kirby Flint Area Congregations Together

D. Kay Taylor Hurley Research Center

Ann-Renee Covert Connection Prevention Services

Amy Krug Priority Children

David Treder Genesee Intermediate School District

Jennifer Dillard MI Dept. of Human Services

Lynn Larkin Community Foundation of Greater Flint

Lindsey Younger Resource Genesee

Kenyetta Dotson Community Action Network

John D. Lee F I F T H K I N G

Dale Weighill Resource Genesee

Antwan Edson Community Member

Yazeed Moore C.S. Mott Foundation

Kasie White Consultant

Tendaji W. Ganges University of Michigan–Flint

John McGary Flint Downtown District Weed & Seed

Greg Gaines Catholic Charities Mr. Rogers Program

Keiona Murphy Flint Community Schools

The Community Foundation of Greater Flint serves as the fiscal sponsor of the out of School Youth Initiative. The Foundation may be reached at 810.767.8270.

To: - Find support for yourself,

- Learn how to help someone,

- Read survivors stories,

- Learn how to make a difference,

- Get involved,

- Discover the facts about disconnected youth,

- Access the Electronic Resource Library,

- Schedule a Hidden Crisis Speakers Bureau presentation,

- Read current disconnected Youth research and articles of interest, or to

- List your organization as a Disconnected Youth service provider.

Visit our website at: www.theHiddenCrisis.org For additional information regarding The Hidden Crisis, please contact:

Mike Kiefer / Project Coordinator at: mkiefer@chartermi.net

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU!!! Visit our website to express your viewpoint, make recommendations to help accomplish our work, or list your organization as a disconnected youth resource.

Page | 27

R E F E R E N C E S The following is a list of names, writings, periodicals, and other data from which portions of this document were derived. 1. Michigan Government Center for Educational Performance and Information, 2009. 2008 Graduation Dropout Rates, including Subgroup Data. Lansing, MI.

2. U.S. Census Bureau, 2009. Geographic Mobility in the Past Year by Educational Attainment for Current Residence in the U.S. Washington, DC: American FactFinder.

3. Ibid

4. Ibid

5. National High School Center, 2004. Reasons Dropouts Leave School. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Services.

6. U.S. Census Bureau, 2009. Median Earnings by Sex by Educational Attaintment for the Population 25 Years and Over. Washington DC: American FactFinder.

7. U.S. Census Bureau, 2009. Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Age. Washington, DC: American Community Survey: American FactFinder.

8. To estimate the size of this population, we have taken the total number of 16-24 year olds residing in Genesee County 50,811 and applied the combined-schools GISD of 14 percent to determine that about 7,111 Genesee County residents ages 16-24 are out-of-school without a diploma or GED. Based on an American Youth Policy Forum formula.

9. Brown, Brett., & Emig, C. 1999. Prevalence, patterns, and outcomes. In D.J. Besharov Ed. America’s disconnected youth: Toward a preventive strategy. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.

10. Brown, Brett. 1996. Who are America’s disconnected youth? Washington, DC : Child Trends.

11. Orszag, Peter. 2009: Recession’s long-term repercussions on today’s youth. New York University, New York, NY.

12. Ibid

13. Myler, Kofi. 2008. Playing Catch Up. Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI.

14. Riley, Rochelle. 2009. Time to break cycle of no skills, no jobs. Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI.

15. Ibid

16. Erb, Robin. 2010. About 1 in 5 students need remedial help in college: Experts say universities, high schools need to work together. Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI.

17. Brown, Brett

18. U.S. Census Bureau, 2009. Sex by Age by Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over. Washington, DC: American FactFinder.

19. Michigan Government Center For Educational Performance and Information.

20. U.S. Census Bureau, 2009. Geographical Mobility in the Past Year by Educational Attainment for Current Residence in the U.S. Washington, DC: American FactFinder.

21. Burden, Melissa. 2010. Genesee County, Flint, unemployment rates increase slightly. The Flint Journal, Flint, MI.

22. Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth. 2009. Lansing, MI.

23. Pew Center on the States, 2009. Pew Identifies States Like California in Fiscal Peril. Washington, DC: Pew Charitable Trusts.

24. Out of School Youth Initiative, 2009. Flint, MI.

25. Pew Charitable Trusts.

26. Beagle, Duncan, 2009. We’ll pay later if we give up on our kids. The Flint Journal. Flint, MI.

27. Alliance for Excellent Education, 2010. Washington, D.C. 28. Academy for Educational Development, 2010. Washington D.C. 29. Community Building Institute, 2010. Cincinnati, OH. 30. Sum, Andrew, 2008: An Assessment of the Labor Market Income, Social, Health, Civic, Incarceration, and Fiscal Consequencies of dropping Out of High School: Findings for Michigan Adults in the 21st Century. Center for Labor Market Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, MA.