© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The Ready by 21 ® Challenge To change the odds for youth by changing the way we do business… The Essential Role of School/Community Partnerships February 19, 2009

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The National Partnership The Key Ideas Discussion: The Essential Role of School/Community Partnerships TODAY’S SESSION

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Forum for Youth Investment Nonprofit, nonpartisan “action tank” dedicated to helping communities and the nation make sure all young people are Ready by 21 – ready for college, work and life. Headquarters in Washington, D.C. 30+ staff headed by prominent national leaders Adjunct office in Michigan (Center for Youth Program Quality) Staff based in Seattle, Kansas City, Richmond & New York

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The Ready by 21 Partners (as of December 08) Technical/ Research partners Mobilization partners Managing partner Signature partner MOBILIZATION PARTNERS United Way of America (signature partner) American Assoc. of School Administrators America’s Promise Alliance Corporate Voices for Working Families National Collaboration for Youth National Conference of State Legislatures TECHNICAL PARTNERS The Search Institute (40 Assets) Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality Youth Pathways Consortium (Child Trends, The Finance Project & The Aspen Roundtable)

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 THE KEY IDEAS

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Changing the Odds for Youth by Changing the Way We Do Business Change the odds for youth Change the way we do business Change the landscape of communities OUR THEORY OF CHANGE:

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The small gear makes a big difference Educators, Businesses, Public Service Agencies, Community Providers, Public Officials, Funders, Advocates, Faith Institutions, Community Catalysts, Families, Young People OUR THEORY OF CHANGE: Changing the Odds for Youth by Changing the Way We Do Business CHILDREN & YOUTH

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Are they Ready? Change the odds for youth Change the landscape of communities Change the way we do business

© The Forum for Youth Investment % are doing well in two life areas and okay in one Productivity: Attend college, work steadily Health: Good health, positive health habits, healthy relationships Connectedness: Volunteer, politically active, active in religious institutions, active in community Too Few Young People are Ready Doing Well 43% Doing Poorly 22% In the Middle 35% 22% are doing poorly in two life areas and not well in any Productivity: High school diploma or less, are unemployed, on welfare Health: Poor health, bad health habits, unsupportive relationships Connectedness: Commit illegal activity once a month Researchers Gambone, Connell & Klem (2002) estimate that only 4 in 10 are doing well in their early 20s.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Are They Getting the Supports They Need? Change the odds for youth Change the landscape of communities Change the way we do business

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 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

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Do these Supports Really Make a Difference? Even in Adolescence? ABSOLUTELY SOURCE : Finding Out What Matters for Youth: Testing Key Links in a Community Action Framework for Youth Development Gambone and colleagues show that youth with supportive relationships as they enter high school are 5 times more likely to leave high school “ready” than those with weak relationships…

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 … 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. Do these Supports Make a Difference in Adulthood? SOURCE: Finding Out What Matters for Youth: Testing Key Links in a Community Action Framework for Youth Development

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 from 4 in 10 doing well to 7 in 10 doing well Providing These Supports CAN Change the Odds Gambone/Connell’s research suggests that if all young people got the supports they needed in early adolescence, the picture could change…

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Effective leaders Change the odds for youth Change the landscape of communities Change the way we do business

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 SOURCE: Margaret Dunkle Business as Usual … See a Problem, Convene a Task Force, Create a Program… Has Created a Tangle of Inefficiencies Children’s Services in Los Angeles County

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Collaborations MCTP United Neighborhoo d Centers Of Greater Roch. Rochester‘ s Child Youth 2000 Juvenile Justice Council CCSI TIER II Interagenc y Council Comm. Asset Network Not Me Not Now Community Service Board Board of Health Children & Family Serv. Subcomm. Youth Services Quality C. School Health Leadershi p Team RECAP Communit y Profile Preventive Services Coalition RAEYC Early Childhood Develop I. Homeless Continuu m of care Impl. Team Monroe Cty. Sch & Comm. Health Ed. Network REE P Rochester Effectiveness Partnership N.E.T. City Violence Initiativ e Task Force on Violence Domestic Violence Consortium Perinatal Community Consortium Do Right by Kids campaign Health Action Domestic Violence Partnership Perinatal Substance Abuse Coalition PCIC SACSI Counselor’s Consortium Rochester Children’s Collab. Roch. Enterprise Communit y Zone P. YRBS Group HW & Tutoring Round Table Student Assistance Prof. Diversion Collaborati ve Runaway & Homeles s Youth Ser Provider Reg. 2 Preventive Provid.N Homeless Services Network CASAS Providers Adult Services Subcomm. Student Asst. Prof. Greater Roch. Area Transition s Collab. America’s Promise NBN Mentoring Round Table OASAS Prevention Initiative CHANGE SDFSCA Planning Committees Reclaimin g Youth Continuous Improvement Service Delivery Advocacy Cross - Systems Change Community Mobilization Evaluation Positive Outcomes for youth & families Best Practice

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 To Help All of Us Think Differently the more we focus (on narrow pieces), the more we fragment (the responses), the more we fail (our children and youth). C = D x V x P Change = Dissatisfaction x Vision x Plan The Harvard Change Model suggests that the likelihood of change increases exponentially as any of these factors gets stronger. But disconnected change efforts may actually dissipate the energy for change.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Changing the Way We Do Business SET BIGGER GOALS BE BETTER PARTNERS USE BOLDER STRATEGIES Think Differently so that together we can Act Differently focus & prioritize differently with a BIG PICTURE APPROACH

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 THE BIG PICTURE APPROACH Bringing Precision to our Passion

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 A Big Picture Approach Civic Social Emotional Physical Vocational Cognitive Ages Times of Day Outcome Areas ? ? ? Morning... Night School After School At its best, school only fills a portion of developmental space

Insulating the Education Pipeline: moving beyond afterschool to define and develop a continuum of basic and enrichment supports to endure that young people are ready for college, work and life K – 12 System Early Childhood Post Secondary Work & Career Child care After-school Civic/Social/Work Social & Strategic Placement Providers Programs Opportunities Supports & Coaching e.g., transportation, health, housing, financial The Forum for Youth Investment 2009 BASIC SERVICES: ENRICHMENT SUPPORTS EDUCATION PIPELINE * * * EDUCATION PIPELINE * * EDUCATION PIPELINE

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Big Tent: Who is Responsible for the Rest? Families Peer Groups Schools and Training Organizations Higher Education Youth-Serving Organizations CBOs (Non-Profit Service Providers and Associations) Businesses (Jobs, Internships and Apprenticeships) Faith-Based Organizations Libraries, Parks, and Recreation Departments Community-Based Health and Social Service Agencies ?

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 THE BIG PICTURE APPROACH An example

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Moving Principles into Practice ABOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORTS ABOUT LEADERSABOUT YOUTH Invest early and often. Support the whole child. Focus attention on those most in need. Build on strengths, don’t just focus on problem- reduction. See youth and families as change agents, not clients. Engage all sectors and stakeholders. Coordinate efforts, align resources. Inspire and inform the public. Children don’t grow up in programs, they grow up in families & communities. Support a full range of learning opportunities, formal/informal, in school and out. Assess and improve quality, reach and impact across all the places young people spend their time. Recruit, train and retain good staff.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Example Language From Core Principles to Common Language

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 From Core Principles to Common Language Using a Youth-Centered Closet Organizer

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Take Aim on the Big Picture How are Young People Doing? Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING Children Enter School Ready to Learn Traditional Approach: Pick One Area

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 But What Happened to the Rest of the Picture? Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING Children Enter School Ready to Learn

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Alternative: Learning to Focus Differently Shifting Red to Yellow, Yellow to Green Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Take Stock of Public and Private Community Supports Using a Common Set of Performance Measures Setting ASetting BSetting CSetting DSetting E Safe Places Caring Adults Opportunities to Help Others Effective Education Healthy Start

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 STARTING POINTS

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The Leadership Engagement Circle 4 key steps to helping leaders increase their effectiveness Facilitate connections Support 12 critical tasks Champion 12 action areas Improved leader outcomes Provide leadership engagement opportunities ACTION AREAS CONNECTIONS CRITICAL TASKS ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Ready by 21 National Partnership The Action Areas FAMILY, SCHOOL & COMMUNITY Increase and sustain school readiness Improve well-being and civic engagement; reduce risky behaviors Improve college and workforce readiness and success Close performance gaps Provide early and sustained supports Expand and coordinate learning opportunities in school and out Create alternative pathways to success Improve quality, equity & access Increase capacity for data-driven performance management Increase returns on current investments and increase targeted, high- payoff investments Increase youth, family and public engagement Strengthen and diversify coordinating bodies, partnerships, and leaders CHILDREN & YOUTH LEADERS OUTCOMES SUPPORTS ACCOUNTABILITY

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Critical Tasks for Planning & Action Take A im Take S tock Target A ction Track P rogress The Forum couples field knowledge with conceptual, practical and “power” tools to help state and local leaders quickly organize available information (about youth outcomes, community supports and current initiatives and resources) to support data-driven “big picture” planning and accountability.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Precision tools Take Aim, Take Stock, Plan Action & Track Progress Selecting indicators Developing report cards How are Young People Doing? How are Communities Doing in Ensuring Supports? Tracking Participation Mapping the Program Landscape Assessing & Improving Quality Mapping the Youth Work Workforce How are Leaders Doing? Diagnostics & Readiness Assessments

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Change the odds for youth Change the landscape of communities Change the way we do business The Ready by 21 Challenge: Changing the Odds for Youth by Changing the Way We Do Business Remember: Moving the Small Gear Makes a BIG Difference

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The Forum for Youth Investment

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Panelist Slides: Corporate Voices for Working Families

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 New Employer Survey Finds Skills in Short Supply On page after page, the answer to the report – Are They Really Ready to Work? – was a disturbing “ NO.” Employers ranked 20 skill areas in order of importance. The top skills fell into five categories: Professionalism/Work Ethic Teamwork/Collaboration Oral Communications Ethics/Social Responsibility Reading Comprehension

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Employers Find These Skills in Short Supply 7 in 10 employers saw these skills as critical for entry- level high school graduates 8 in 10 as critical for two-year college graduates, more than 9 in 10 as critical for four-year graduates. Employers reported that 4 in 10 high school graduates were deficient in these areas Note: Only 1 in 4 of four-year college graduates were highly qualified.