Problem-Free isn’t Fully Prepared: Why Focusing on Readiness Matters Now More than Ever Karen Pittman The Forum for Youth Investment October 15th Luncheon Keynote Institute for Youth Success

Problem Free Isn’t Fully Prepared... February 2006 Problem Free Isn’t Fully Prepared... Civic Engagement Educational Attainment Physical Health Vocational Readiness & Success Social & Emotional Health Delinquency & Violence Pregnancy & HIV/AIDS Core Supports & Opportunities Dropouts & Illiteracy Unemployment & Under-employment Substance Abuse, Suicide, Depression

The U.S. Has a Laser Focus on High School Graduation Rates

Does graduation equal readiness? Not really. 4 in 10 of over 400 U.S. employers from across industries reported that high school graduates who applied for entry level jobs were deficient in top needed skills such as communications, problem-solving, teamwork, work ethic (e.g. time management, persistence) In addition to the research on readiness, we hear concerns from employers:The top needed skills fell into five categories: Professionalism/Work Ethic Teamwork/Collaboration Oral Communications Ethics/Social Responsibility Reading Comprehension There is increasing agreement among educators, employers and youth themselves around the skills needed for the 21st century. And as you can see, not only are there concerns regarding youth with a high school diploma, but also youth with a 4 year degree.

Too Few Young Adults Are Doing Well February 2006 Too Few Young Adults Are Doing Well

If NRC-Named Supports Were Provided Steadily In adolescence: youth with supportive relationships, as they enter high school, for example are 5 times more likely to leave high school “ready” than those with weak relationships… In young adulthood: … and those seniors who were “ready” at the end of high school were more than 4 times as likely to be doing well as young adults. - Finding Out What Matters for Youth: Testing Key Links in a Community Action Framework for Youth Development, 2002

The Reality: We Know What It Takes to Support Development February 2006 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

Setting Quality Matters School, Work, Life Success Readiness Skills Youth Engagement Setting Quality

Gallup Student Poll Finding: Only 1 in 4 students is hopeful, thriving and engaged in school! Finally, youth themselves are telling us their concerns. In 2009-2010, the Gallup Organization conducted a poll of over 700,000 young people across the nation, asking them about their daily experiences and aspirations for the future. They found that only 1 in 4 students reported being hopeful, thriving and engaged in school, so that means that 75% would not identify with all three of these very important factors. Hope, engagement and wellbeing are all actionable targets as indicators of future youth success.

The Readiness Practices

The Practice Dilemma The Official doesn’t explicitly name Developmental Required or Established Practices codified by each system or setting as necessary for the achievement of official outcomes Official Practices ? Developmental Practices Informal or optional practices that support growth and development and are necessary for the development of youth’s sense of agency

System and Setting Traps The Big Questions: #1. What happens when Official doesn’t include Developmental? System and Setting Traps Readiness Gaps #2. What can be done to change the paradigm? Abilities and Practices Maps

Ready Children & Youth Struggling Ready Thriving

Make the Invisible Visible Name Common Skills Needed to meet the goals set by each Education Systems Child Welfare & Juv. Justice Systems Workforce Development Systems Health & Prevention Services Civic & Community Organizations The Abilities Backpack