Strengthening Youth Policy in 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 Practices October 2003

© 2005© 2006 Wanted: Youth Who are Ready for College, 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: Coordinated 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 Children’s Services in LA County 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 business as usual work? How do We Change from 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 Child Care & & Training

© 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 years Age Groups e.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 business as usual work? Creating an Actionable Vision

© 2005© 2006 Developmental 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 Connectin g (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–K 0–5 Children 6–12 Youth 13–19 Young Adults 20–24 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 C hange the Odds Pre–K 0–5 Children 6–12 Youth 13–19 Young Adults 20–24 Families and Communities Ready for College Learning Ready for Work Working Ready for Life Thriving Connecting Leading Pre–K 0–5 Children 6–12 Youth 13–19 Young Adults 20–24 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