NEAL DENTONSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICERYMCA OF THE USA
ANGIE REESE-HAWKINSPRESIDENT AND CEOYMCA OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, DC
KEVIN WASHINGTONPRESIDENT AND CEOYMCA OF THE USA
KAREN PITTMANCO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CEOTHE FORUM FOR YOUTH INVESTMENT
®
Messaging the Essentials: Why Youth Belonging
and Purpose Matter and How Staff Contribute
Karen Pittman, President and CEO
The Forum for Youth Investment
YMCA National Advocacy Days March 3, 2020
New Science Findings Support Ys Investments in Staff and
Programs, Especially those for Teens and Young Adults
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1. Adolescence is a critical developmental period in a young person’s life
that creates the foundation for later success.
2. New research reveals important opportunities for building skills and
competencies that should inform practice and policy decisions.
3. A focus on adolescence highlights the need for greater alignment and
problem-solving across systems and sectors that impact thriving.
4. Working with adolescents is a unique opportunity to develop and
advocate for solutions with young people, not just for them.
Skills Develop Across Settings & Over Time to Support Young Adult Success
The 2015 UChicago Consortium on School Research Report, Foundations for Young Adult Success, funded by the Wallace Foundation, helps us understand how the skillsets and mindsets build over time and interconnect and contribute to success.
https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Documents/Foundations-for-Young-Adult-Success.pdf
1. Adolescence is a critical developmental
period in a young person’s life that creates the
foundation for later success
Ys work across the age span from
early childhood to young adulthood
Potential is visible in environments designed to reveal it
2. New research reveals opportunities for building skills and competencies that should inform practice and policy decisions
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Adversity doesn’t just happen tochildren, it happens insidetheir brains and bodies.
We can design environments that
correct for the impact of stress
and drive healthy development
for al l chi ldren and youth.
The brain is
malleable.
Capacity + Motivation + Opportunity = Behavior, NOT GENES
- T TURNAROUND'.J FOR CHILDREN
THE MARSHMALLOW TEST REVISITED IUniversity of Rochester 2012
Well-Resourced
and Aligned Infrastructur
e Inclusive and Safe
Communities
Supportive Relationshi
ps
Ecosystem for Youth
Opportunity and Belonging
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3. A focus on teens/young adults facilitates greater alignment and problem-solving across systems
Education
Pre-K
K-12
Post Secondary Education& Career Certification
Community Programs
Community, Faith, Civic and Social Justice Organizations
Afterschool/Summer
Employment Training/Exposure
Child Welfare
Juvenile Justice
Police
Safety/Remediation
Housing
Health/Mental Health
Social Services Transportation
Basic Services
Science of Learning &
Development applies to All
Youth Experiences
Science of Learning & Development applies
to All Youth Experiences
Five Non-Negotiable Conditions
These five non-negotiables are needed to support whole child design
The Power YOU Carry
“I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”
Dr. Haim Ginott
From Risk Takers to Alternative/
Opportunity Seekers
4. Unique opportunity to develop and
advocate for solutions with young
people, not just for them
The Power YOU Carry Together4. Unique opportunity to develop and
advocate for solutions with young
people, not just for them
“I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”
Dr. Haim Ginott
Youth and Adults Can Co-Create Environments Intentionally and Work for
Change Together
Across the U.S., 13 States had state designated funding streams
specifically for afterschool in 2019
A number of other states include
afterschool as an allowable use in
school funding formulas, student
success dollars, local levy uses,
STEM funds, social, emotional
and wellness initiatives,
community schools and more
Examples of state funding for Afterschool
California
$650M
In 2002, California passed a voter initiative referendum known as Prop 49 to begin the Afterschool Education and
Safety Program (ASES). Legislation now provides $650 million dollars for programs across the state.
Tennessee
$13.5M
The Lottery for Education: Afterschool Programs (LEAP) was created in 2002 to reserve unclaimed lottery funds
for public and non-profit academic focused afterschool programs serving students aged 5-18 with priority for
programs enrolling 80% high-need students. In 2019, the fund was $13.5 million.
Connecticut
Additional $1M
In 2005, established an “After school program grant”. Annual reporting from the program in 2014-15 showed it
served about 6,000 students and that participants over time had increased attendance and fewer discipline
infractions. In 2019, the state provided an additional $1 million appropriation to the program.
Alaska
12.5% Sales Tax Revenue
Department of Health and Social Services administers a percentage (12.5%) of the state’s tax revenue from
marijuana sales for afterschool programs.
Afterschool in 2020
Jan 14, 2020: City Council
Member Ben Kallos proposes
legislation for Universal
Afterschool in
New York City
Jan 9, 2020: Vermont Governor
Phil Scott gives State of the State
address proposing to expand
afterschool opportunities for the
whole state
Candidates for the 2020
election publish education
plans inclusive of
investments in afterschool
ABBY KIESADIRECTOR OF IMPACTCENTER FOR INFORMATION & RESEARCH ON CIVIC LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT (CIRCLE)
Local Ecosystems for Increasing and Diversifying Youth Civic Engagement
Why I Work at CIRCLE
"Because whether and how communities intentionally ask and create clear opportunities for diverse input, participation, and attention to inequities says a great deal about our democracy."
• Building and nurturing youth voices
• Connecting engagement with young people’s own lives
• Education for liberation
• Institutional intentionality
Who am I?
Why talk about youth civic engagement?
@TischCollege @civicyouth
•Who participates? Votes?
•What are their experiences?
•What do they do after?
CIRCLE Research
Research Informs Action &
More Inclusive Systems
•Equitable representation
•Diverse Youth Voices
•Thriving Communities
Future of
Democracy
What We Do
Jumps in Engagement in 2018
Youth voter turnout in 2018 increased in EVERY STATE we looked at…
• In 31 states, youth turnout increased by double digits
• In 19 states, it increased by 15 or more percentage points
• In 5 states, it increased by 20 or more percentage points
Voter Turnout Among 18-19 Year Olds Was High
…WE CAN DO BETTER. WHEN ALL OF US KNOW OUR
POTENTIAL.
This was incredible, but…
AND…
…BECAUSE OF STRUCTURAL BARRIERS, SOME YOUTH REMAIN UNDERMOBILIZED
…SO, WHO’S SYSTEMATICALLY LEFT OUT?
…MOST OF WHAT WE SAW IN 2018 OCCURRED B/C OF YOUTH SECTOR HUSTLE
High School Students Were Undermobilized
How can the way communities build engagement shift
so they do not reify political inequalities?
...TO A WIDE DIVERSITY OF YOUTH?
MEANINGFULACCESSIBLEVISIBLE
How can conversations about and participation be…
A paradigm shift . . .
“Mobilizing”Voters
FROM
“Growing”Voters
TO
Lack of consistent & positive representation of
youth engagement in media
Negative Perception of Political Leaders
Low Exposure toCivic Practices
Barriers to engagement start before age 18
Many stakeholders can influence youth engagement, both positively and negatively…
Community Conditions
Local Voter
Outreach
Civic Culture
Youth
Election Administrators
Neighborhoods
County or Municipal programming
Local nonprofit community/social service centers
Local Youth Organizations School Civic
Climate
find opportunities to grow engaged community membersin all parts of young people’s lives
COMMUNITY HOME WORK SCHOOL
AND WE NEED MANY STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT A DIVERSITY OF PATHWAYS
We got this! When ALL of us are contributing to young people’s pathways.
More of us working to
support diverse youth voices
Start earlier than 18 years old
Create a culture of civic
engagement
More informed and equitable engagement
YOUR Y’S ROLE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENTDEBI LOMBARDI, Partner Engagement Manager, Nonprofit VOTE
XITLAALI CASTELLANOS, YMCA Youth Advocate
STEPHEN BUCKNER, Assistant Director of Communications, U.S. Census Bureau
SHARON LEVY, Vice President, Public Affairs, YMCA of Greater New York
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES OVERVIEW
ELENA ROCHA, Senior Director, Youth Development Partnerships & Policy, Y-USA
KATIE ADAMSON, Vice President, Health Partnerships & Policy, Y-USA
NEAL DENTON, Senior Vice President and Chief Government Affairs Officer, Y-USA
YOUTH DEVELOPMENTPRIORITY REQUEST
➢ Support afterschool and summer learning programs by providing $1.35 billion for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)
LEARNING HAPPENS EVERYWHERE
• OST programs are vital to the fabric of community supports available to young people
• OST programs complement what happens during the school day
• 85% of Y afterschool programs take place in schools
The Waking Hours
AFTERSCHOOL & SUMMER PROGRAMSAT THE Y
Thingamajig
Soccer, Gymnastics, Swimming,
Tennis
BOLD & GOLDReach &
Rise
Counselor in
Training
Power Scholars Academy
Youth and Government
Arts
Achievers
Summer Learning
Loss Prevention
WHY OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS?
Experiential Learning
& On-the-Job
Training
Character Development
Volunteerism&
ServiceLearning
Protective Factors
Health & Wellness
Academic Achievement
AFTERSCHOOL ROI & IMPACT
Youth in after school programs demonstrate improved:
Older students in after school programs are more likely to:
• Classroom engagement & behavior• School attendance• Grades & work habits• Reduced risky behavior (tobacco,
alcohol & drug use)
• Attend college• Vote• Volunteer
Every $1 invested in afterschool programs saves up to $3 by increasing young people’s learning potential, improving student performance in school, and reducing crime and welfare costs.
CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCETARGETED MESSAGES
Stakeholders – across sectors – care about school readiness, literacy and graduation rates, the skills gap, economic stability, and national security.
This is why afterschool programs are seen as:
Family Supports
Workforce Readiness
Resiliency & Well-being
Crime Prevention
Military Readiness
Achievement Gap
ADDRESSING THE SKILLS GAP
More than half of employers lack qualified candidates with essential skills.
More than 75% of youth express concerns over whether they have the skills necessary to secure a job.
OST builds foundational skills:• Teamwork & collaboration• Communication • Critical thinking & problem-
solving• Self-control & confidence
OST introduces students to:• New interests• Career paths• Real world work experience• Opportunity to practice skills
CURBING JUVENILE CRIME
Juvenile crime peaks after school.
1 in 5 kids are unsupervised from 3-6 pm, the hours when juvenile crime, victimization, and drug use peak
Increased access to quality afterschool programs have contributed to a 70% reduction in juvenile arrest rates since 2000.
- Fight Crime: Invest in Kids (2019)
MITIGATING EFFECTS OF TRAUMA
Childhood exposure to trauma can impact: • Development• Mental & physical wellbeing• Healthy relationships• Academic achievement • Further fuel cycles of
violence, unemployment and poverty
Afterschool programs foster protective factors by helping youth develop:
• Positive self-concept• Competence• Self-efficacy• Agency• Self-regulation• Problem-solving• Decision-making• Interpersonal skills• Belonging• Connectedness
PROMOTING MILITARY READINESS
71% of young adults -ages 17 to 24 - cannot qualify for military service because they:• Are not academically
prepared• Are too overweight• Have a record of crime or
drug abuse
- Pentagon, 2017
Afterschool programs support military readiness by:
• Promoting physical health and wellness through physical activity and education, nutrition education, and healthy eating
• Academic achievement• Juvenile crime and drug use
SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES
Parents lose 8 days of work, and businesses lose up to $300 billion a year, due to parental concerns about afterschool care.
Too many parents lack access to quality, affordable care for their school-aged children.
Afterschool programs:• Help parents balance work
and life• Give parents peace of
mind knowing their kids are in safe environments with caring adults
• Help working parents provide for their families
ADVANCING THE FIELD
Positive Youth Development
Positive Experiences
Positive Environments
Positive Relationships
PRIORITY “ASK” & KEY MESSAGES
REQUEST: Support $1.35 billion for 21st CCLC, which support locally-designed OST programs – provided in partnership with schools and community-based organizations.
• A $100 million increase = an additional 100,000 kids to afterschool programming
• Current funding serves 1.7 million children, yet 19 million children care for themselves after the school bell rings.
• 21st CCLC funding supports 1 in 5 YMCA afterschool programs.
• This is a bipartisan issue!
HEALTHY LIVINGPRIORITY REQUEST
➢ Prioritize investments in chronic disease prevention and control by supporting no less than $1.73 billion for CDC’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Programs to prevent and control the nation’s leading causes of death and disability.
WHAT FACTORS IMPACT HEALTH?HOW IS YOUR Y IMPACTING HEALTH?
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HEALTH CARE SPENDING IN US – AND WHAT IT’S BUYING US
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WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF HEALTH LOOK LIKE IN THE US?
WHAT WE SPEND ON PREVENTION VS TREATMENT IN THE US
Prevention: $1 BILLION Treatment: $3+ TRILLION
INVESTMENTS IN PREVENTION YIELD SAVINGS AND A HEALTHIER AMERICA
➢ $10 per person per year in proven community-based programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking and other tobacco use could save the country more than $16 billion annually within five years.
➢ This is a return of $5.60 for every $1.
HEALTHY LIVINGPRIORITY REQUEST
➢ Prioritize investments in chronic disease prevention and control by supporting no less than $1.73 billion for CDC’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Programs to prevent and control the nation’s leading causes of death and disability.
ADDRESS YEARS OF LOST FUNDING AND PROVIDE A MODEST INCREASE
This $500 million increase makes up for years of lost funding and provides a modest increase
TALKING POINTS
Prioritize Investments in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control at CDC✓ Please support $1.73 billion in funding for CDC’s Chronic Disease
Control and Prevention programs.✓ These dollars help Ys scale evidence-based programs that prevent
and control diabetes, arthritis, hypertension and childhood obesity and programs to help cancer survivors reclaim their health. These dollars reduce health inequity and build walkable and bikeable communities.
✓ For every dollar we invest in prevention of disease we save $5.60.✓ By prioritizing prevention funding at CDC’s chronic disease
center, we can help reduce chronic disease, save lives and rein in health care costs.
ONE LAST REQUEST-DROWNING PREVENTION
✓ Fatal drowning is the leading cause of unintentional deaths for children ages 0 to 4 years old.
✓ 64 percent of African-American and 45 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim.
✓ The Y is the nation’s swim instructor, delivers swim lessons to more than 1 million children each year.
✓ These dollars would support organizations like the Y to teach kids water safety skills.
✓ More than 1,250 Y branches (500+ associations) run Safety Around Water programs to help teach kids how not to drown.
MESSAGE: Support $5 million for Drowning Prevention at CDC.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYPRIORITY REQUEST
➢ Support the Charitable Giving Tax Deduction Act, and other similar measures that ensure nonprofits like the Y can continue to address needs and support everyone in their communities: H.R. 651, H.R. 1260 & H.R. 5293
TAX REFORM – CHARITABLE GIVING
Increase charitable giving by supporting a universal deduction that encourages more giving. The Universal Charitable Giving Act is a good starting point to ensure that tax reform unlocks more charitable giving.
• The doubling of the standard deduction in the new tax law is decreasing the number of people who itemize deductions.
• This creates an unintended consequence of fewer individuals making charitable donations.
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A Universal Charitable Deduction
• A universal charitable deduction would allow non-itemizing taxpayers a deduction for their charitable gifts.
• A universal charitable deduction will incentivize all taxpayers—regardless of income—to give to charity.
• Congress can address this unintended consequence and increase charitable giving by enacting a universal charitable deduction.
For every $1 a donor receives in tax relief, the public receives $3 in benefits.
PRIORITY REQUESTS➢ Support afterschool and summer learning programs by
providing $1.35 billion for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC).
➢ Prioritize investments in chronic disease prevention and control by supporting no less than $1.73 billion for CDC’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Programs.
➢ Support the Charitable Giving Tax Deduction Act, and other similar measures that ensure nonprofits like the Y can continue to address needs and support everyone in their communities.
➢ Invite them to visit your Y!
QUESTIONS?