Ensuring the Success of Children & Youth in American Communities

For Release:

October 25, 2002

Contacts:

Judy Wurtzel, 202-296-5220
Audrey Hutchinson, 202-626-3053
Irv Katz, 202-347-2080

National Groups Call for Collaboration To Improve Odds for Children and Youth

Washington, D.C. --- The National League of Cities, the Learning First Alliance and the National Collaboration for Youth today issued a joint position statement outlining their agreement on critical steps communities must take to ensure success for America's children and youth.

Building on two recent research-based reports, this statement marks the first time that these organizations representing the nation's mayors, educators, parents and youth service providers have joined forces to demonstrate their agreement on three key issues: What are essential outcomes for youth?; What are key attributes of positive youth settings?; and Why must municipal leaders, social service providers and educators all be accountable for improving results for youth? Moreover, it challenges local communities to define the outcomes they wish for their young people, to use data to measure progress, and to hold themselves publicly accountable for results.

Read the full statement.