Youth News

ONLINE RESOURCES

Connected by 25: Improving Outcomes for Struggling Students

For as many as 30 percent of our young people, the road to a productive adulthood is interrupted well before they secure the postsecondary skills and credentials that are essential for citizenship, economic security, and productivity. Among African-American and Hispanic students, the numbers hover around 50 percent, and in hundreds of large city high schools around the country more than half of the young people are not on track to graduation. Jobs For the Future’s Connected By 25 80 eighth-inning as wise as it is directed at improving the options and outcomes for this large group of young people. To read about Connected By 25 and to download related resources, go to: http://www.jff.org/jff/approaches/youthtrans/showcase/ConnectedBy25.html.

Detention Reform and Girls: Challenges and Solutions

This latest publication in the Pathways series explores the increase in the numbers of girls being arrested and detained as well as current detention systems inability to provide adequate conditions to properly house and meet the special needs of young female detainees. The report also examines possible solutions and challenges to reform for girl detainee systems. For a full version of the report please visit: http://www.aecf.org/publications/data/jdai_pathways_girls.pdf.

Good Jobs and Careers: What Communities Need to do to Train and Move Low-Income, Low-Skilled People into Good Jobs and Careers

A new brochure wheel developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation summarizes the key components necessary to implement a successful workforce initiative. It identifies what communities need to do to train and move low-income, low-skilled people into good jobs and careers. For more information please visit: http://www.aecf.org/initiatives/fes/goodjobs/index.htm

NAM/Manufacturing Institute/Deloitte Consulting Survey: Skill Gaps Report

The serious shortage of qualified employees that a vast majority of U.S. manufacturers are now experiencing is taking an increasingly negative toll on America’s ability to compete in the global economy, according to a survey report released today by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte Consulting LLP. The 2005 Skills Gap Report is based on responses from more than 800 manufacturers of all sizes nationwide and is the first new comprehensive survey about the American manufacturing workforce in five years. It is available at www.nam.org/2005skillsgap.

Street Gangs and Interventions: Innovative Problem Solving with Network Analysis

This COPS Innovations piece reviews prevention, intervention, suppression, and comprehensive strategies to address this issue of gangs and provides examples of each. It also offers a case study of problem analysis in Newark, New Jersey through the Greater Newark Safer Cities Initiative. This paper discusses the unique utility of network analysis in the resultant problem analysis and emphasizes the important role of an academic research partner. Finally, the piece considers the importance of sustainability with regard to problem analysis. To view full report complete visit: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/mime/open.pdf?Item=1616.

IN THE NEWS

State Recommends Replacing Antiquated Youth Prisons

The corrections department outlined its reform plans in a report filed in Alameda County Superior Court, as required by a legal settlement. According to court documents, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration thinks California should replace its warehouse-like youth prisons with smaller, more modern lockups. The department also reversed an earlier plan to transfer parole responsibility to counties, as was proposed by a governor's advisory panel last year. For information on proposed comprehensive reform of one the nations most notorious youth prison systems please visit: http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California2/CA_Youth_Prisons_214183CA.shtml.

U.S. Department of Labor Launches Pathways to Construction Employment Initiative in Louisiana and Mississippi

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration Wednesday launched the Pathways to Construction Employment Initiative to support economic revitalization in Louisiana and Mississippi in the aftermath of recent hurricanes. A partnership between each state's workforce agency and community college system will use their respective $5 million grants to establish and operate two construction career pathways. For full article visit: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20052160.htm.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Outcome Evaluations of Violence Prevention Programs

The National Institute of Justice is accepting proposals to conduct comprehensive evaluations of promising violence prevention programs with the objective of expanding the list of effective interventions to prevent violence to and by youth. The submission deadline is February 24, 2006. For a complete proposal request description please visit: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/sl000732.pdf.