Forum for Youth Investment

Fragmented data systems result in wasted resources; we are letting young people fall through
the cracks. if we don’t provide our policy makers the information they need to see how fragmented programs and policies could fit together, and if we don’t provide our direct service providers the in-

The U.S. Department of Education just made it easier for agencies to share important data about young people - data that will help them improve services and supports. The Department's new guidance on FERPA makes significant strides in recognizing that a young person's development takes place both inside the classroom and out.

The Forum recently worked with communications consultants, SpitFire Strategies, who specialize in developing communications strategies for nonprofit organizations. The concepts that they shared with us are also highly relevant to the work of your Youth Council. The PowerPoint below provides insights for developing a coherent message for your Youth Council's councils targeted audience.

This month you'll find out about the Ready by 21 Policy Coalition's Capitol Hill briefing, Big Tent Conference, and Ready by 21 webinars. Also don't forget to read Karen's Youth Today column on the Gallup Student Poll, two "big idea" policy papers, and the first installment of the Ready by 21, Credentialed by 26 Series.

The Ready by 21® Quality Counts initiative provided leaders and intermediaries from 12 cities and states around the country with a bold challenge – improving the quality and reach of out-of-school time programming.

Tracking Child & Youth Well-Being is a new analysis by the Forum of several newly released reports on child and youth well-being. The paper outlines how tools such as the Ready by 21 Developmental Dashboard can help leaders be effective.

The Ready by 21 National Partnership is proud to announce the awardees of the Ready by 21 Quality Improvement & Asset Building Challenge Grants (Q&A Challenge). Wicomico County, MD; Asheville, NC; and Ft. Myers, FL showed a broad cross-sector commitment building assets for children and youth and so were selected to be part of the Q&A Challenge first cohort.

Program landscape mapping is a process that enables community members, decision makers and stakeholders to identify or inventory existing youth services and organizations.