August 24th, 2017
READY NEWS
News & resources from the Forum and the field about collaborative work to get young people ready by 21.

Investing in the Next Generation: A Bottom-Up Approach to Creating Better Outcomes for Children and Youth
Making greater and more effective investments in children and youth will be the best way to improve social mobility throughout the nation. Research  has demonstrated the
positive long-term effects of providing a specific set of coordinated interventions from "cradle to career." Despite the conclusive evidence, our nation has been unable to provide those in need with access to the right kinds of services.

The question is, who will lead the effort to expand these proven strategies? Over the past decade, it has become apparent that we cannot rely upon the federal government or the states.  Fortunately, as higher levels of government have faltered, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas have stepped up. Local leaders have recognized that the issue of stagnant opportunity is far too urgent to wait for other levels of government to act. In communities across the country, leaders in local governments have joined forces with nonprofits, philanthropies, and businesses to increase the magnitude, quality, and coordination of cradle-to-career investments in the next generation.

A recent paper explores how local governments can deliver better outcomes for children and youth. "Investing in the Next Generation: A Bottom-Up Approach to Creating Better Outcomes for Children and Youth" by Bruce Katz and Ross Tilchin was produced by the Brookings Institution with significant contribution from Elizabeth Gaines of the Forum for Youth Investment.

Reflections from Forum Staffreflections
Completion is Not Enough: Reflecting on my High School Experience
Blog by  
Neeja Patel, State and Local Policy Intern , The Forum for Youth Investment

This blog is the second in a series of junior Forum for Youth Investment staff and interns sharing their perspectives and engaging with the Forum's Changing the Odds concepts.

I recently read an article on NPR by a Duke student reflecting on growing up in South Carolina's 'Corridor of Shame,' where students often lack the resources to be ready for school, work and life. This article made me recall my own experience growing up in Silicon Valley, where wealth gaps and socioeconomic disparities remain prevalent. My high school was a perfect microcosm of this phenomenon-low-income students and the affluent attended the same schools and were all encouraged to strive for success. However, the messaging around what success meant startled me. The goal was to complete high school and graduate, instead of attaining true readiness for future school and job opportunities. Despite the best of intentions, as the Forum says, completion is not enough.

National Meeting Webinar Serieswebinar
Ready by 21 National Meeting Webinars
Every year, the Ready by 21 National Meeting brings together more than 450 national, state and local leaders who, like you, are committed to improving partnerships, policies and practices for children and youth. We are excited to announce that the 2018 Ready by 21 National Meeting will be held in Palm Beach County, Florida on April 18-20.
Every year there are dozens of stimulating workshops and sessions from top leaders in education, policymaking, advocacy and out-of-school time. To share the expertise of these leaders and inform the field of youth development, we have launched this free webinar series featuring the best content from the Ready by 21 National Meeting.

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Next Session: 
Social Belonging for Youth Success: Research and Promising Practices
September 14, 2017
2:00-3:00 pm EDT

A strong sense of social belonging means feeling valued and accepted by others. Social belonging has been linked to many aspects of success in school, career and adult life, including physical health, mental health, academic achievement and persistence. This webinar will begin with an overview of the research on social belonging, including a glimpse at the neuroscience of belonging and how it has been linked to positive outcomes among youth in diverse settings. Presenters will discuss how youth program staff, educators, counselors, and mentors can practice simple exercises to promote belonging in their settings.


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Previous Session: 
Key Findings from Market Research on Social and Emotional Learning


Social and Emotional Learning. Whole Child. Non-Cognitive Skills. Character. There are many different terms in play for this work, which is intended to help children learn skills they need to succeed in school, in work and in life. During this session, results were shared from a recent market research project conducted by EDGE Research that explored how K-12 educators, out-of-school time leaders, and parents think about SEL. Researchers also explored how these groups responded to different ways of framing the benefits of SEL. 
Social, Emotional and Academic Developmentsead
Case Study: Putting It All Together
A new case study from the Aspen Institute's National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development - of which the Forum's Karen Pittman is a proud and active member - explores how schools and school districts across the country are integrating social, emotional and academic development (SEAD) into their K-12 classroom curricula. From a D.C. school embedding collaboration, critical feedback, and leadership skills in its lessons across subject areas to the "growth mindset" math program in the San Francisco Unified School District, the case study highlights promising strategies for leveraging the curriculum to simultaneously build students' social, emotional, and academic skills.

The report is the first in a series that will examine challenges, opportunities, and key lessons for re-envisioning what success looks like in our schools. A future report will explore working in partnership with the broader community. The series serves to help drive a greater conversation about how students learn and how to bring the best ideas and practices to all schools and students.

Early Childhood Careecc
Early Childhood Care and Education Levers to Improve Population Health

September 14, 2017
New York, N.Y. and Virtual

Next month, the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement will hold a free, public 1-day workshop that explores the intersection of health and early childhood care and education (ECE), two key social determinants of health.

The workshop will provide a brief overview of the science, including effective interventions, programs and practices that can be supported by health and ECE sectors. Invited speakers, including the Forum's Larry Pasti, will discuss examples of cross-sector collaboration from around the country and different funding models and sources supporting healthy early development. This workshop will also offer participants an opportunity to get to know colleagues from other sectors.


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