All Youth Ready at 21
Connecticut Youth Futures Policy Team
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Participates in:
 Youth Policy Institute of the National Conference of
State Legislatures, the Forum for Youth Investment
and the National Governors Association
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Membership:
 Representatives from the legislative and executive
branches of government, along with community
representatives
Goal: Create a comprehensive, coordinated
system of youth-development services.
We do this by giving youth access to:
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Resources that promote optimal
physical and mental health
Nurturing relationships with adults and
positive relationships with peers
Safe places for living and working
Educational and economic opportunity
Structured activities and opportunities
for community service and civic
participation.
Youth outcomes for measuring
success of the system
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Increased school attendance
Improved academic or technical proficiencies
Full employment if not in school, or receiving other
training
Engaged in community efforts
Living in stable housing
Increased access to physical and mental health care
Acting as leaders and mentors to other youth
Kickoff of the
Connecticut Youth Futures Committee
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House Speaker Jim Amann, Representative Ken Green, and other
key lawmakers announced “a new vision for youth justice and youth
services” at a news conference on February 6, 2006.
“The State of Connecticut is making positive strides to provide
services to youth. However, there is still a large gap in services to
young people, specifically, those of color, low economic status, and
in rural communities that are not seeing all of the benefits to assist
them in becoming healthy adults.” – Representative Green
“Our future depends on young people having the tools they need
to succeed in an extremely competitive global economy.” –
Speaker Amann
Youth Futures Policy Team
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Works with state agencies, community representatives, and youth to
formulate youth policy and develop strategies for embedding
positive youth development outcomes and principles in budget
priorities and practices.
Testifying in support of youth:
House Speaker Amann, Rep.
Elizabeth Boukus, and (standing)
Commission on Children Legislative
Director Elizabeth Brown.
Youth Futures Policy Team collaborates
with the State Youth Vision Team
About the Youth Vision Team:
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An interagency collaboration led by the Office of Workforce
Competitiveness, within the Connecticut Employment and Training
Commission (CETC).
Seeks to improve planning and coordination across state agencies to
“better prepare the neediest youth populations for the high-growth, high
demand jobs of the 21st century.”
Accomplishments:
 State agencies are developing a demonstration project in New Haven
that will serve 50 foster youth between the ages of 14 and 21.
More about the New Haven project
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The youth must be:
 transitioning out of foster care or preparing to do so, and
 participants in the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.
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State agencies will seek to leverage resources, align outcomes, and serve
the youths in holistic manner, instead of focusing on just one outcome, such
as job training or literacy.
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Expect further systems changes related to data-sharing, leveraging of
resources, program evaluation, research, and youth involvement.
New policy direction
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The Human Services Committee raised H.B. 5532, An Act Concerning Youth
Policy. The bill passed unanimously in committee and awaits action on the
House calendar.
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WHAT: Creates a Youth Futures Committee led by the Connecticut
Employment and Training Commission (CETC) through the Office of
Workforce Competitiveness to develop a comprehensive plan for
embedding youth development outcomes and accountability in all state
youth services.
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WHO: Representation from all three branches of government, including
six legislators appointed by House and Senate. Bi-partisan leadership
and representation from a local Workforce Investment Board and from
the State Youth Service Bureau Association.
New policy direction (continued)
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CHARGE: The Committee is charged with the following:
 Developing guidelines for the delivery of youth services
 Embedding positive youth outcomes in state policy
 Improving communication among agencies that administer programs to
youth
 Assessing existing funding resources, networks, and returns on
investments to maximize the development of community level services.
 Collaborating with public and private partnerships.
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ACCOUNTABILITY: The committee will be required to show:
 progress in achieving positive youth development outcomes
 total state expenditures dedicated to achieving such positive outcomes
 state agency programs that serve youth not in educational activities
Taking it to the streets
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Youth ‘speak outs’ planned
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Six forums will be held
across Connecticut between
April and June 2006.
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The forums will be hosted
by youth organizations, with
questions and formats to be
determined by those
groups.