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October 2008 | |
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EDUCATION Is community-based mentoring through the public education system a model for the future in efforts to keep youth on track for graduation and careers? In an effort to enhance education and career opportunities among teens, the U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded a total of $49.5 million to nine high schools with higher-than-average levels of violence. The funds – going primarily to Philadelphia-based schools – are earmarked for bringing in community-based organizations to provide mentoring services and improve student behavior as a whole. Click here to learn more about this program. The Center of Education Policy, in Some Perspectives from Rural Districts on the No Child Left Behind Act, examines the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on student achievement in rural districts with this featured report. Drawn from a 2006-07 survey of eight rural districts throughout the United States, this report gives a comprehensive look at the challenges faced by students and educators alike. Access the full-length report here.
FOSTER CARE California, A Case Study: Education outcomes among youth in foster care are one of the many ramifications of overloaded state systems. Although concern for a child's immediate safety takes precedence over any other long-term consequences, a lack of attention to the educational needs and potential of foster youth results in life-long challenges. This report, Ready to Succeed: Changing Systems to Give California's Foster Children the Opportunities They Deserve to be Ready for and Succeed in School, addresses these challenges and shares recommendations from The California Education Collaborative for Children in Foster Care. The May report from the Congressional Research Service, Youth Transitioning From Foster Care: Background, Federal Programs, and Issues for Congress, offers an overview of the federal foster care system and the Chafee Foster Care Independence program (CFCIP), as well as a discussion of issues that Congress may wish to consider pending legislation relevant to each of the issues. Children in state welfare systems are often overlooked once they achieve their majorities or become emancipated from the system. Although nearly half of U.S. states have laws that allow for continued care beyond the age of 18, few of them actually facilitate any programs. In a report released by the Congressional Research Service, the effects of these practices are examined. In case you missed the report, you can find a copy here.
JUVENILE JUSTICE Trends in Native American Juvenile Incarceration As with many youth of color, Native American juveniles are arrested, adjudicated, and incarcerated in juvenile justice systems at a much higher rate than white youth committing the same crimes. In a report from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, these disparities are studied in depth. Learn the factors that influence Native American involvement with the system and crime prosecution on tribal lands. View the full report here. Are Juvenile Offenders Getting Younger? According to public perception, the average age of juvenile offenders is decreasing at an alarming rate. However, until Examining Recent Trends in Preteen Crime, an analysis released through Chapin Hall, few reports have put data beyond conjecture. By examining data collected by law enforcement agencies across the country, this study demonstrates that in reality, the age profile of juvenile offenders has not changed substantially in 25 years. Learn what affects public perception and how the juvenile justice system deals with child behavior problems in today's social welfare field.
SPOTLIGHT ON FUNDERS Increasing College Success Among Former Foster Youth: A Collaborative Effort Among YTFG Members Walter S. Johnson Foundation, Stuart Foundation, Casey Family Programs, and Lumina Foundation for Education. According to national statistics and social evidence, less than 2 percent of former foster youth who attend college will actually graduate, due primarily to a lack of adequate support and resources. In 1998, California State University and the California Community Colleges began a program to encourage enrollment among foster youth. Ten years later, leading grantmaking institutions - including the Walter S. Johnson Foundation, Stuart Foundation, Casey Family Programs, and the Lumina Foundation for Education - are working together with communities to support efforts that empower and equip administrators with the tools and strategies they need to effectively support their students in achieving higher educational goals. As part of this collaborative effort, Walter S. Johnson Foundation, Stuart Foundation, Casey Family Programs and the Lumina Foundation for Graduation will sponsor the Second Annual Creating a Blueprint Conference in October, hosted by the Silicon Valley Children's Fund (SVCF) and the Connect Motivate Educate (CME) Society at San Jose State University. Offering an opportunity for college administrators to come together with foster youth advocates to ensure academic success for current and former foster youth, this conference presents networking and informational services for those working with education and/or foster youth services. For more information, click here.
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In This Issue
YTFG ACTION GROUP MEETING November 18-19, 2008 Save the Date! The 2008 Fall Action Group Meeting for YTFG will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 18-19, 2008. The meeting is open to all grantmakers interested in disconnected youth issues. The November meeting explores the cross-cutting issues of career readiness, employment, and economic self-sufficiency for youth between the ages of 14 and 24. To get information on how to register, contact Lisa at lmcgill@ytfg.org.
JOB OPENINGS YTFG regularly posts job announcements on the YTFG Intranet as a courtesy to action group members. To review job openings, log on to the Intranet at http://ytfg.camp7.org.
YTFG MEMBERS AT THE Grantmakers for Education CONFERENCE Make sure to stop by these sessions led by our members at the GFE conference, scheduled for October 20-22, 2008, in Baltimore Maryland. Monday, October 20 3:45-5:15 pm Straight Talk: How Young Advocates are Changing Systems for Today's Highly Mobile Students Tuesday, October 21 8:30 - 10:00 am Getting to Graduation: Investment Strategies to Increase Rates of Students Graduating Ready for College and Life Tuesday, October 21 2:00 - 3:30 pm Rethinking Career and Technical Education: Merging 21st Cent. Workforce Skills with College Readiness Click here for meeting agenda, logistic details, and registration.
CFK RECONNECTING YOUTH QUARTERLY ROUND UP! Just in case you've missed the bi-weekly issues of the Connect for Kids Update, check out these highlights on disconnected youth from the previous quarter. This quarterly update is courtesy of the Forum for Youth Investment.
POLICYMATTERS On October 7, 2008, President George W. Bush signed Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act into law. To learn more about this new law, click on this summary from CLASP. |
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