Dep’t of Human Rights Professional Development Opportunity Positive Youth Development May 8, 2006

Objectives Introduce Positive Youth Development. Introduce ICYD. Learn what you can do.

Positive Youth Development Ongoing process in which all youth are engaged and invested, and in which young people seek ways to meet their basic physical and social needs and build competencies and connections necessary for survival and success.

Positive Youth Development Ongoing process in which all youth are engaged and invested, and in which young people seek ways to meet their basic physical and social needs and build competencies and connections necessary for survival and success.

Basic Assumptions All youth are going to develop. All youth are going to try to connect with others. All youth interact on some level with adults. All adults (and youth) want youth to succeed and contribute to society.

PYD Nuts and Bolts –Frames issues differently, focusing on the positive skills and attributes we want youth to have. –Encourages collaboration across various sectors. –Focuses on the services, opportunities, and supports young people need to become productive adults.

What the research says…. National Academy of Sciences: Community Programs to Promote Youth Development “Adolescents who spend time in communities that are rich in developmental opportunities experience less risk and show evidence of higher rates of positive development. A diversity of program opportunities in each community is more likely to support broad adolescent development and attract the interest of and meet the needs of a greater number of youth.” Research supports positive youth development programs: –Increases positive behavior and decreases problem behaviors –Youth/Adult partnerships work –Positive environments are proven to be effective

Now what? ICYD began in 1999 Works to align policies of multiple youth- serving agencies. Promotes youth development and collaboration through the use of the Iowa’s Promise marketing message. Provides T/TA. Encourages Youth Involvement.

State Policy Work Adopted a Youth Development Results Framework with results, indicators, and strategies to guide the work of engaged agencies. CJJP decat process Learning Supports initiative ICVS Iowa’s Promise initiative Iowa Afterschool Alliance State-local collaboration sites IDPH ESCAPe initiative State of Promise AmeriCorps Grants National Recognition Nat’l Crime Prevention Council Nat’l Governor’s Association Nat’l Council of State Legislators Ready by 21 Initiative America’s Promise Harvard Family Research Project Mott Foundation

Iowa Youth Development Results Framework Result Area Components Family All Youth have the benefit of Safe and Supportive Families, Schools and Communities All Youth have the benefit of Safe and Supportive Families, Schools and Communities Economic security, Basic needs (housing, food, etc.), Positive relationships with family members, Safe communities, Safe and effective schools, Quality youth programs & opportunities, Positive connections with adults, Continuum of effective services and interventions Youth All Youth are Healthy and Socially Competent All Youth are Healthy and Socially Competent Physical and mental health status, Lifestyle choices (e.g., avoidance of risky behaviors), Personal and social development, Pro-social relations Youth All Youth are Successful in School All Youth are Successful in School School attachment and Academic achievement Youth All Youth are Prepared for a Productive Adulthood All Youth are Prepared for a Productive Adulthood Vocational and career awareness, Employability skills, Self sufficiency and Life skills, Civic engagement (voting), Community involvement, and Youth Leadership

Adopted the Five Promises 1.Ongoing relationships with caring adults 2.Safe places to learn and grow 3.A healthy start and future 4.Marketable skills through effective education 5.Opportunities to give back through community service

Training and Technical Assistance Provide Advancing Youth Development Training Monthly e-files Access to data (Iowa Youth Survey) Website ( Bring in speakers, tools, and hold policy forums. Task Force meetings, ICN’s, etc.

Youth Involvement YES Ambassador Work with individual communities and organizations around strategies. Work with State of Promise program to train AmeriCorps members to engage youth. Help group start youth advisory boards; include youth voice. Work with SIYAC

State of Iowa Youth Action Committee Started in 2000 Designed to advise policy-makers and executive administrators. Serves as an advisory council to ICYD. Twenty diverse high school youth from across the state. Meets monthly in Des Moines and can be accessed by contacting Amy Croll.

How does this apply to you? Policy issues Encourage collab with established groups. Adopt language that allows the local level. Utilize existing groups for funding when poss. and encourage locals to do the same. Focus on the outcomes we want for youth instead of what we want them to avoid. Training and technical assistance Utilize services provided such as policy forums, trainings on PYD, etc. Get involved in shaping some of ICYD’s activities. Challenge us to think of populations that we typically don’t reach. Promote training opportunities/website to locals looking for info on youth, data, and/or ways to involve young people in programs and community.

Youth Involvement Utilize SIYAC as a sounding board if you don’t have another youth group to gather feedback and input from. Encourage local/state groups who are trying to involve youth on their boards to be trained in youth/adult partnerships. Before engaging youth, make sure to articulate the purpose of their engagement and have a role for youth to play.

More information Amy Croll Steve Michael Carla Bennett

Making the Grade in Iowa Supports for Student Learning & Performance

For every student in every school and community in Iowa to achieve at high levels requires that schools and school districts, in collaboration with their community partners, develop a comprehensive, cohesive approach to delivery of learning supports that is an integral part of their school improvement efforts. The Vision -- Judy Jeffrey, 2004

Learning Supports Activities, programs, and services (beyond core classroom instruction) that are intended to facilitate the learning and development to ensure student success in school and in life.

System of Learning Supports A set of supports, internal and external to the educational system, that operate cohesively as a comprehensive continuum to support learning for all students in a school.

Barriers to Learning Learning Supports Success in School No Barriers Range of Learners = Motivationally ready & able to learn what the teacher is prepared to teach I II = Some students who are not very motivated/ lacking prerequisite knowledge & skills III = A few students with complex and intensive barriers to their learning 1. Classroom focused supplements to instruction 2. Safe, healthy, and caring learning environments 3. Support for transitions 4. Family support and involvement 5. Child/Youth engagement 6. Community partnerships

Community Outreach Character Education Substance Abuse Prevention Violence Prevention ACADEMICS Family Life Educa- tion Health Educa- tion Service Learning Parent Programs Getting from a fragmented system with multiple goals… Family Support and Involve- ment Transitions Safe, Healthy School Environ- ment Supplements to Instruction Academics School-Family-Community Partnerships All Iowa children & youth are successful in school …to a system of Learning Supports oriented toward student achievement

A Resource Management Team

Academic Instruction (Direct facilitation of learning) Leadership (Governance and Resource Management) Learning Supports (Addressing Barriers to Development & Learning) Working Together to Improve Student Outcomes All Iowa youth are successful in school Agencies (Human Services, Health, etc.) Organizations (YMCA, Scouts, 4-H, Parks & Rec.) Families Faith-Based Groups Business Youth as Partners

To fulfill our Promises to Iowa Children & Youth: Caring Adults Safe Places A Healthy Start Marketable Skills Opportunities to Serve

PEC Coordinator Learning Supports Consultant

Iowa Department of Public Health Iowa SAFE Community Network Program began in 1989 Substance abuse free environment Now SAFE – a safe community SAFE is a planning and organizational framework to reduce substance abuse in Iowa communities Organize people – build a coalition or join forces with other community efforts Provide training Assess the Community’s Needs Create a 3 Year Plan

SAFE - Purpose The Mission of the Iowa SAFE Community Network is to build a safe and healthy Iowa by mobilizing local coalitions to coordinate community-wide (neighborhood, county) prevention efforts, which reduce substance abuse, violence, crime and associated problems.

How does the Work We Do Help Communities in Iowa? Organize efforts, avoid duplication Build capacity to address substance abuse issues Bring together sectors in the community Assess current strengths and needs in the community Create a plan of action to address issues identified in the assessment SAFE is not a “program” but an organizing framework

Prevention Strategies used by SAFE Coalitions Information and Awareness Host a community forum Develop a resource guide Articles for local newspaper Environmental Strategies Tobacco free restaurant ordinances Keg Registration Compliance checks at convenience stores Alternative Activities Host substance free community activities for youth and adults. Promote or host Alcohol free after Prom and graduation parties

Who Are Our Partners? 23 Comprehensive Prevention Agencies Community Coalitions throughout the State of Iowa Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development New partnership – America’s Promise

How might SAFE and Community Partnerships work together? Do you know if there is a SAFE coalition in your community? Attend a SAFE coalition meeting, share what your goals are or invite them to your meeting. If goals are similar, support shared initiatives, activities Involve youth in both groups, have members represented in each group Consider joining forces

I have a question… Contact: Marilyn Alger Iowa Department of Public Health (515)

Community Empowerment Achieving Results

Iowa Community Empowerment “Empowerment was founded on the vision that communities and state government could work together to improve the well being of families with young children.” --- Dr. Robert Koob, Iowa Empowerment Board Chairperson December, 2000

Iowa’s Vision for Early Childhood: Every child, beginning at birth, will be healthy and successful.

Purpose of Community Empowerment Build an early care, health and education system through –Partnerships; –Empower individuals and communities; –Improve the well-being of young children and their families –Achieve results

State StructuresLocal Structures State and Local Partnership Shared Responsibility Achieving Results Citizen Involvement Strengthen Systems Alignment Build Collaboration/ Partnerships Accountability

Community Empowerment Structure State Advisory Councils Community Empowerment Areas Iowa Empowerment Board State StructuresLocal Structures Office of Empowerment Community Empowerment Area Contacts Local Advisory Council State Empowerment Team Technical Assistance Partners (AEAs, Community Colleges, ISU Extension, Other)

Result Areas/Indicators Healthy Children Children Ready to Succeed in School Safe and Supportive Communities Secure and Nurturing Families Secure and Nurturing Child Care Environments Low Birth Weight Immunized Children Pre-literacy Skills Children in Quality Preschools Crime Rate Juvenile Crime Employment Rate Incidence of Child Abuse Teen Births Child Abuse in a Child Care Setting Availability of Child Care Quality Child Care Ratings (in development) *The Iowa Empowerment Board approved the revised indicators on September 9, 2005, to track statewide progress toward the results.

Iowa Empowerment Board Leadership Agenda – FY 2006 Achieving Desired Results The Iowa Empowerment Board will empower Iowans and their communities to achieve desired results for improving the quality of life for children (0-5) and their families. Collaboration The Iowa Empowerment Board, public and private organizations, and communities develop collaborations to build an interdependent system that is both comprehensive and integrated, for children (0- 5) and their families. Advocacy The Iowa Empowerment Board will lead policy development and build public engagement for support for Early Childhood and Early Learning for children (0-5) and their families.

State Empowerment Team Interagency Representation –Department of Economic Development –Department of Education –Department of Human Rights –Department of Human Services –Department of Management –Department of Public Health Staff time in kind contribution from departments Team provides technical assistance to communities

State Empowerment Team Technical Assistance –Provide assistance to community empowerment areas –Disseminate information statewide –Promote community capacity and leadership –Provide guidance on system building –Provide connections or linkages to additional assistance i.e. co-sponsoring training with PCA-Iowa and CPPC

Newsletter Empowerment Legislation Meeting Agendas/Minutes CEA Local Information - map Result/Data Information & Links Tool Kit Advocacy Toolkit

Community Empowerment Areas 58 areas representing all 99 counties Areas are geographically self- defined Areas implement community plans

Geographic Areas Empowerment Areas LYON OSCEOLADICKINSON EMMET KOSSUTH SIOUX O’BRIEN CLAY PALO ALTO HANCOCK WINNEBAGO CLINTON WORTH MITCHELL HOWARD FLOYD CHICKASAW WINNESHIEK FAYETTE ALLAMAKEE CLAYTON PLYMOUTH CHEROKEE BUENA VISTA HUMBOLDT WRIGHT FRANKLIN BUTLER WOODBURY IDA SAC CALHOUN WEBSTER HAMILTON HARDIN MONONA CRAWFORD CARROLL GREENE BOONE STORY MARSHALL BREMER BLACK HAWK BUCHANAN DELAWARE DUBUQUE GRUNDY TAMA JACKSON BENTON JONES LINN CEDAR POWESHIEK JOHNSON JASPER KEOKUK IOWA WASHINGTON MAHASKA MUSCATINE SCOTT MARION LOUISA POLK MILLS HARRISON POTTAWATTAMIE SHELBY CASS GUTHRIE MADISON DALLAS ADAIRWARREN AUDUBON FREMONT MONTGOMERY PAGE ADAMS TAYLOR RINGGOLD UNION CLARKE DECATUR LUCAS WAYNE MONROE APPANOOSE WAPELLO DAVIS JEFFERSON VAN BUREN LEE HENRY DES MOINES POCAHONTAS CERRO GORDO

Community Empowerment Boards Composition: Majority Citizen/Elected Official Representation Includes: Business Consumer Faith Education Health Human Services

Community Empowerment Boards Overview/Role: –Promote and demonstrate community collaboration –Community assessment –Coordinate Planning –Establish priorities –Develop a system for comprehensive services to support families and communities –Coordinate program/funding to meet needs and priorities

Road to Results Achieving Results Healthy Children Children Ready to Succeed in School Safe and Supportive Communities Secure and Nurturing Families Secure and Nurturing Child Care Environments Ongoing Assessments Redesignation Process Occurs every three years Confirms communication action, process and effort Continuous improvement Time for reflection Grant and Budgeting Process Conducted annually Submit changes, new items to State Empowerment Office Celebrating Successes Training Sessions Annual Report Compiled annually Includes the two-page showcase report Community Plan Building the foundation Living and breathing, ever-changing document Sets priorities Guides decision-making

Achieving Results Healthy Children Children Ready to Succeed in School Safe and Supportive Communities Secure and Nurturing Families Secure and Nurturing Child Care Environments

Community Plan Building the foundation Living and breathing, ever-changing document Sets priorities Guides decision-making

School Ready Support comprehensive services for children ages zero through five, including: –Preschool and child care –Home visitation & Parent support –Prenatal services –Professional development –Up to 3% for administrative funds Source: State funds

Early Childhood Enhance quality child care capacity in support of parent capability to obtain or retain employment, including: –regular child care, including recruitment of providers –child care for mildly ill children –second or third shift child care –infant child care –training to increase quality for center-based and home-based child care providers Source: Federal Funds

Redesignation Process Occurs every three years Confirms communication action, process and effort Continuous improvement Time for reflection

Office of Empowerment Shanell Wagler, Facilitator Iowa Department of Management Capitol Building, Room 12 Des Moines, IA /

How can we build win-win collaborations to better serve children, families and our organizations ?