http://www.clasp.org/issues/rss/highlights.xml?type=youth Featured Highlights from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) en-us Sun, 19 May 2013 14:21:58 -0500 info@clasp.org webmaster@clasp.org 40 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5728/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=11046 Keeping Connected is a periodic update designed to keep advocates and practitioners informed on policy happenings in education, training, and youth development that can impact black male achievement. http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5728/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=11046 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Taking-Aim-at-Gun-Violence.pdf In a single generation, our nation is faced with the prospect of losing over 132,000 black men and boys to gun violence. Moreover, for every black male who dies from gun violence, there are another 24 others who suffer non-fatal injuries - making the impacts of such violence even greater. In black communities, gun violence is about far more than reforming gun control laws and empowering law enforcement. Gun violence for young black males predominates in communities where residents live in concentrated disadvantage with high rates of unemployment, school dropout, and poverty. The absence of opportunities in these communities gives rise to criminal activity and the loss of too many young lives. Solving the crisis of gun violence in communities requires that America address the issue of concentrated poverty and geography. The rebuilding and strengthening of these communities through creating infrastructure to provide improved education and employment opportunities for black youth will significantly reduce issues of gun violence. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Taking-Aim-at-Gun-Violence.pdf Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/RWJFBrief_investinginbmoc.pdf Boys and young men of color in the United States face challenges in the areas of education, employment, and health. In the last several years, there has been greater focus on understanding these challenges and identifying potential solutions. While we know more about effective programmatic solutions, we still have much to learn about the systemic barriers that impede the success of males of color. Effecting policy changes in these areas will produce sustainable gains for boys and young men of color. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation commissioned CLASP to conduct a scan of these policy opportunities to inform the development of their Forward Promise Initiative. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/RWJFBrief_investinginbmoc.pdf Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASPCommentstoUSDOE-2012OVAE0014.Final-2.pdf CLASP applauds the Obama Administration and the leadership of the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Education in spearheading the Interagency Work Group on Disconnected Youth. We welcome the role the workgroup can play in providing visibility to the situation of this often forgotten segment of the youth population and in advancing policies that support dropout recovery and the reengagement of youth in high-risk situations. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASPCommentstoUSDOE-2012OVAE0014.Final-2.pdf Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/documents/files/SRCD-Social-Policy-Report-2012.pdf The latest issue of Social Policy Report, aEURoeChildren, Families and Poverty: Definitions, Trends, Emerging Science and Implications for PolicyaEUR? features commentary from Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Bryant. The Social Policy Report is a quarterly publication that provides a forum for scholarly reviews and discussions of developmental research and its implications for the policies affecting children published by the Society for Research in Child Development. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/documents/files/SRCD-Social-Policy-Report-2012.pdf Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5728/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=10870 This periodic update for the field is a part of CLASP's ongoing work to advance policy and practice that will dramatically improve the education, employment, and life outcomes for youth in communities of high youth distress. It highlights policy happenings in education, training and youth development that impact black male achievement. http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5728/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=10870 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5728/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=10732 This periodic update for the field is a part of CLASP's ongoing work to advance policy and practice that will dramatically improve the education, employment, and life outcomes for youth in communities of high youth distress. It highlights policy happenings in education, training and youth development that impact black male achievement. http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5728/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=10732 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=1170&list=publications Keeping Connected is a periodic update designed to keep advocates and practitioners informed on policy happenings in education, training, and youth development that can impact black male achievement. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=1170&list=publications Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/documents/files/Guidebook_FNL5_READER.pdf This guidebook is a companion document to CLASPaEUR(TM)s Keeping Youth Connected data profile series developed to assist communities that have high levels of youth distress. The data profile project aims to elevate discussions about this challenge and encourage the strategic actions necessary to improve outcomes for youth and the community. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/documents/files/Guidebook_FNL5_READER.pdf Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0059 http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0059 Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0048 We are all painfully aware of the employment situation for Black males in the United States. The problem is not a new one. It has, however, been exacerbated by the economic crisis of the last several years. As in times past, black males have been slow to bounce back from this most recent setback in the economy. Young black men in particular face major challenges because their lack of attachment to the labor market is generally a predictor of future attachment and future earning potential. There are solutions to this employment problem aEUR" but it requires significant advocacy, the public will to be intentional about solutions for black males specifically, and adequate resources to address the scale of the problem. http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0048 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/documents/files/HR-4297-WIA-Fact-SheetFinal.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/documents/files/HR-4297-WIA-Fact-SheetFinal.pdf Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0031 There is a gross disparity in outcomes for Black people, particularly men and youth, in all major areas of American life, including education, employment and health. The reasons for these disparities are myriad, such as generational poverty, lack of access to opportunities and structural racism. As a nation, we simply cannot afford to write off generations of Black men who have so much potential. We urgently need action in the Black community and political will at all levels to drastically alter the status quo. The 2025 Campaign for Black Men and Boys was formed to ensure that by the time black boys born in 2007 turn 18 (in 2025), the nation's policies and social mores will have changed drastically enough that collectively they will fare far better than today's young black men. We Dream A World sets forth a strategy to raise awareness, create local impact, and advance better policies to achieve this goal. http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0031 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/postsecondaryyouthofcolor.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/postsecondaryyouthofcolor.pdf Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0029 In Their Own Words is a video developed to gain better insight into the unique experiences of young people who have dropped out of high school and reconnected to career and education supports and to capture the sense of hope and transformation of young males of color. http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0029 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/ESEA-Recommendations2010.pdf American school districts are losing the battle to successfully educate a large number of the nation's youth. The reauthorization of ESEA is a prime opportunity to rethink how we can strengthen our commitment to reconnect with youth who have left school without receiving their diploma. These comments, submitted to the US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, focus on how to amend ESEA to ensure that struggling students and high school dropouts have access to systems, support, and funding to remain in school or re-enter the educational system and attain a viable education that prepares them for post secondary opportunities and success in careers. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/ESEA-Recommendations2010.pdf Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Youth-Employment-Systems.pdf Many communities have shown tremendous commitment to youth employment. The return on investment and effort, however, can be greatly multiplied if federal youth funds, discretionary funding, resources from other youth serving systems, and community resources are brought together to build comprehensive youth employment system. Key elements of such a system include: a strong convening entity, an effective administrative agent, a well-trained case management arm, strong partnerships across systems that serve youth, and high quality work experience and career exposure. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Youth-Employment-Systems.pdf Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Follow-the-Money.pdf Several pieces of legislation have been proposed or passed that present opportunities to fund programs in communities to keep young people connected to school and recapture those who have fallen by the wayside. Most of these resources, however, are from competitive funding streams which will require communities to demonstrate innovative practice in planning and implementation. Communities need to be aware of these potential opportunities very early in the process in order to plan strategically and create partnerships to program at-scale and meet the needs of their disconnected youth. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Follow-the-Money.pdf Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/WIA-Youth-Recommendations-updated-jan-2010-1.pdf WIA reauthorization provides the opportunity to re-think and strengthen the youth delivery system across the country. CLASP recommendations focus on increase targeting to high risk youth and more strategic alliances among youth serving systems http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/WIA-Youth-Recommendations-updated-jan-2010-1.pdf Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/0438.pdf This paper advocates expansion and better integration of efforts to connect high school dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24 to pathways to postsecondary credentials that have value in the labor market. The paper highlights examples of innovations in policy, program delivery, pedagogy in adult education, youth development and dropout recovery, and postsecondary education that should be built upon in developing more robust and successful dropout recovery and postsecondary education policies and practices to open the door to higher wages and career opportunities for this population. The authors urge federal officials, governors, school administrators, college officials, workforce leaders and employers to provide leadership in building the supports and pathways at scale to bring dropout youth back into the education and labor market mainstream. The paper was prepared for the Center for American Progress. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/0438.pdf