Government/Policy

In order for community partnerships to have a positive collective impact on young people’s lives, federal policies need to support comprehensive, place-based interagency efforts. The Forum for Youth Investment, in partnership with the National Collaboration for Youth, American Institutes for Research, the Campaign for Youth, the Children's Leadership Council and the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions, hosted a webinar to learn about the White House and the Obama Administration’s plans to support such comprehensive efforts for youth in general, and for disconnected youth in particular.

While child and youth coordinating bodies such as Children’s Cabinets, P-20 Councils, and Early Childhood Councils are critical in providing seamless, effective and efficient services to children and youth, there is little research on them. Which is why the Forum conducted the Ready by 21 State Policy Survey: Child and Youth Policy Coordinating Bodies in the U.S.: the first comprehensive biennial survey of state child and youth policy coordinating bodies, conducted with assistance from the RAND Corporation.

What does a new federal proposal to align policies for disconnected youth mean for practitioners and policymakers?

What does it take to support disconnected youth? We know it takes not just one program, but a range of supports and opportunities. This White House paper outlines some of the existing barriers to comprehensive efforts along with some sensible steps federal policymakers can take to make it easier for providers in communities.