new jersey's youth agenda
DESCRIPTION
Presentation from GSETA 2011 ConferenceTRANSCRIPT
New Jersey’s Youth AgendaStrategic Planning for Youth and Young AdultsNJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development
GSETA, September 14, 2011
Purpose:
• To determine the value of addressing youth development strategically.
Outcomes:• Identify next steps to coordinate youth development
activities and move forward to achieve a shared vision.
And…………
• To explore and Identify the current situation
• To identify short and long term goals
• To determine where support may come from
• To review possible obstacles
• To outline first steps for action
Background
In May, 2011 LWD laid the groundwork to bring together a NJ Team that would focus on strengthening services to youth.
A small representative group met on May 12 to develop a baseline plan to assemble the larger team.
On June 24, a larger group was convened to continue the discussion and determine the value of moving forward .
The Youth We Serve…….Many are:
• Basic skills deficient• Homeless• Aging out of foster care• Prone to risky behavior• Parents• Unemployed or
Underemployed
And face these barriers:
• Lack of Transportation • Lack of parental involvement,
family issues and dynamics• Low life and coping skill• Lack of mentors• Delayed medical intervention• Experiencing addictions• Mental health issues
The NeedWell-designed and coordinated programs offer youth who have become disconnected from mainstream institutions and systems additional opportunities to successfully transition to adult roles and responsibilities.
The VisionThe nation’s neediest youth will acquire the talents, skills and knowledge necessary to ensure their healthy transition to successfuladult roles and responsibilities.
Objectives
New Jersey’s team was created to support the objectives of the
federal mission to ensure that communication, coordination, and
collaboration focuses on:
Developing and coordinating policy, within existing policy
structures to address the needs of disadvantaged youth.
Maximizing interagency collaborations to utilize the significant
expertise within specific Federal agency.
Coordinating research so the government can fund programs that produce results that help disadvantaged youth. Finding and elevating models of "what-works" and help replicate them nationwide.
Developing innovative model strategies that efficiently and effectively respond to the needs of disadvantaged youth.
Objectives
What We Know So Far----The Work Done to Date
Top 10 Signs of a Successful Youth
1. Equipped for a career2. Marketable skills for a
sustainable living3. High school diploma4. Self-sustaining5. Resilient, self aware,
motivated6. Career awareness,
knowledge of options
7. Wellness, addiction-free8. Work experience9. 13th Year educational
attainment10. Culturally sensitive
Top 10 Signs of a Successful System
1. Active collaboration at the policy level
2. Collaborating through shared planning, decision making, resources
3. Services not limited by funding rules
4. Leverage private resources
5. Universal comprehension of services/funding
6. Opportunity for progressive work
7. Tailors service to meet specific needs of youth
8. A shared vision9. Seamless, comprehensive
delivery10. A system that continues to
evolve and improve
Coordination/Collaboration Across Organizations
Contact Information
Lynn Logo-Keepers, State DirectorNew Jersey Youth CorpsDepartment of Labor and Workforce Development
609-292-2060Email: [email protected]