The Search Institute conference (November 5-7, 2009 in Cincinnati) brings together people from different community sectors nationally and internationally who share a common goal: to work together to promote positive youth development through asset building.

The second edition of this Forum for Youth Investment report has information on program observation tools -- a good resource for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers trying to choose or develop such measures.

This Feb. 20, 2009 National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and Forum for Youth Investment webinar will highlight the bipartisan efforts of state legislators who are prioritizing the coordination of services, developing a common set of outcomes and collaborating to implement plans that foster the well-being of youth. For details contact Ian Faigley at ian@forumfyi.org

The vast majority of the Federal government’s hundreds of programs serving children and youth spread are essential and effective, but they are not part of an integrated, strategic plan. State and national organizations can join the Ready by 21 National Partnership campaign urging the Obama administration to establish a White Office on Children and Youth to provide young people a voice and provide coordinated leadership across 12 federal departments and agencies.

Latest news (3/31/2009): Senator Reid Urges Obama to Create White House Office.

Why a White House Office?
Far too few of our nation’s young people are ready for college, work and life. Just 4 in 10 youth are in school or working, healthy, and connected to their community.

Approximately 30 percent of high school students do not graduate on time. For African American and Hispanic students, on-time graduation is a 50-50 proposition. Employers report that 4 in 10 high school students lack the skills needed for work.

The Federal government runs hundreds of programs to serve children and youth ages 0-24, spread across 12 departments and agencies.

The vast majority of these efforts are essential and effective; however, they are not part of an integrated, strategic plan to help at-risk populations achieve successful adulthood.

Furthermore, few of the efforts designed to help young people have been designed with clear input from the young people the programs serve.

To transcend silos, amplify the voices of young people themselves and define a clear vision for success for all federal efforts, we need a White House Office on Children and Youth.

Join the 400 organizations and more than 1,000 individuals who are part of the campaign for a White House Office on Children and Youth.

Children's Rights reports that Wisconsin officials have agreed to an aggressive new plan aimed at fixing persistent problems in the state-run system responsible for providing care and protection to abused and neglected children in Milwaukee.

Anyone planning a Semester of Service or Global Youth Service Day project is invited to register for these calls, all at 2:00 pm EST. February 17, 2009 will cover partnerships and volunteer recruitment, March 3 will discuss fundraising and grantwriting and the March 17 webinar will address media and web communications.

WKCD is launching a web-based national petition campaign to make college access and success for low-income students one of the Obama Administration's top priorities.

"The fact is that extended early-childhood intervention has been proven to work. We have little to show, on the other hand, for our vast expenditures on Title I in its current form," said Ed Zigler, long-time policy advocate for young children and founder of Head Start. Title 1 is the major federal funding stream for elementary and secondary schools for programs serving large numbers of disadvantaged students.

Oklahoma's universal pre-K program has shown dramatic benefits for Hispanic students who participate in high-quality preschool programs. These children, especially those from Spanish-speaking homes, improve their English and cognitive development skills and are more likely to be prepared for kindergarten than those not enrolled.

Children's Express reports on a Spanish-language program for migrant parents that helps them develop nonpunitive discipline skills, deal with the stressors of acculturation, improve family communication, and understand U.S. child abuse and neglect laws.