Preparing Youth for the 21 st Century Economy Gregg Weltz Director of Youth Services U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Department of Labor Youth Vision Created in response to the 2003 White House Task Force on Disadvantaged Youth Final Report: Focus on Disconnected Youth prioritizes investments to serve youth in and aging out of foster care, youth offenders, children of incarcerated parents, migrant youth, Indian and Native American youth, youth with disabilities and out-of-school and dropout youth. Focus on Alternative Education is to provide leadership to ensure that youth served in alternative education programs will receive a high quality education that adheres to expected standards and provides accountability within schools for the curriculum taught and student outcomes achieved. Focus on Alternative Education is to provide leadership to ensure that youth served in alternative education programs will receive a high quality education that adheres to expected standards and provides accountability within schools for the curriculum taught and student outcomes achieved.

U.S. Department of Labor Youth Vision Focus on Business Demands is to ensure that youth obtain the skills needed by businesses so that they can succeed in the 21 st century economy. Focus on Performance is to implement key initiatives to assure that funding for youth programs is performance based and that systems and programs are focused on outcomes.

Creating a Collaborative Approach to Prepare Youth for Labor Market Success In response to the 2003 White House Task Force Report for Disadvantaged Youth, a Federal Interagency Work Group was created to: In response to the 2003 White House Task Force Report for Disadvantaged Youth, a Federal Interagency Work Group was created to: enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration among Federal agencies; and ensure that well-designed and coordinated programs provide the neediest youth opportunities to successfully transition to adult roles and responsibilities.

The Federal Shared Youth Vision Partnership A Federal Partnership between the United States Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, Transportation, the United States Social Security Administration, and the Corporation for National & Community Service.-Drive Economy

Youth Vision Partners US Department of Education US Department of Health & Human Services US Department of Housing & Urban Development US Department of Justice US Department of Labor US Department of Transportation Social Security Administration Corporation for National & Community Service

State Vision Youth Forums State Vision Youth Forums 2004 Forums - - All states and territories attended the forums and began work on their “Shared Youth Vision” 2006 Forums states competitively selected to attend Receive process management/facilitation support around developing a state vision, resource alignment and peer-to-peer learning

In response to requests for additional resources: A “Solutions Desk” was created to provide a technical assistance (TA) resource that will: Provide a gateway to each of the federal partners’ resource centers, clearinghouses, and training and technical assistance providers, and Provide a gateway to each of the federal partners’ resource centers, clearinghouses, and training and technical assistance providers, and Assist State Teams with their Shared Youth Vision activities.

Moving Forward in 2007… State Pilots projects - - move to the next level of collaboration in serving its neediest youth and serve as models The Federal Partnership will also work with teams to develop strategies that assist them in attracting new partners and leveraging resources by expanding their collaboration through the engagement of business and industry as well as foundations.

Resources: White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth Final Report, October skfforce.pdf skfforce.pdf “New Strategic Vision for the Delivery of Youth Services Under the Workforce Investment Act.” (Training & Guidance Letter No 3-04, “TEGL 28-05: Expanding ETA’s Vision for the Delivery of Youth Services Under WIA to Include Indian and Native American Youth and Youth with Disabilities.”