The Challenge is the definitive guide to the key ideas and resources behind Ready by 21. The Ready by 21 challenge aims to develop a solution for a common dilemma--too few young people are entering adulthood ready and our collective efforts to make a difference are far too fragmented to have a big impact. As part of the Forum's solution, leaders…

In addition to the Afterschool Alliance's "Voters' Polls" and "America After 3 PM", a number of other surveys and polls have been conducted in recent years to gauge American support for after-school. This report consolidates information gathered from 2003 through 2006 and reports that, across the various polls and timeframes, it remains clear that…

The report examines the situation, prospects, and needs of Latin American youth in the context of changes which the region has undergone in recent decades and in the face of difficulties of the present and future. The report is divided into 11 sections, each containing 2 to 4 subtopics. The sections include: "Demographic Structure and…

Examines how serious youth employment is in Australia as well as factors responsible for unemployment among these and other individuals (such as girls and young women). Also examines youth policies, focusing on educational and training concerns and issues. (JN)

This report presents statistics on the high unemployment rate of Hispanic youth, examines reasons for it, evaluates Federal government response to the problem, and discusses policy implications. Minority youth bear a disproportionate burden of unemployment. Among the barriers to Hispanic youth's successful participation in the labor market are low…

Focusing on a behavioral analysis of nonproblematic youth, attempts to determine why some youths in high crime areas remain nondelinquent. A preliminary formulation of nondelinquency says these youth are strongly influenced in a noncriminal direction by a significant other. (Author/LHW)

The specific characteristics of unemployment among the population under 25 in industrialized societies are described along with unemployment's relation to education and training programs. (JMF)

After 14 years of decline, cities across the nation are reporting spikes in crime rates, which many law enforcement officials attribute to decreased federal spending on crime prevention and more juveniles becoming involved in violent crimes. This report highlights the "after-school" gap: 20-25 hours per week that children are out of…

Preparing youth for success in tomorrow's workforce is of increasing concern to American schools, communities, policymakers and businesses. After-school programs are uniquely situated to help youth develop the skills needed in the 21st Century workplace. The after-school setting provides additional time for learning, and allows for engaging…

Community-based programs in the juvenile justice system present a promising alternative to the disappointing results achieved by large institutional facilities. A diverse group of states has found that intensive, individualized services provided in small, family-like residential settings or in the juvenile's own home yield comparable or reduced…

The report is organized into three sections. Section 1, "Attendance and Organization of Work," is a general summary giving information on place and date, attendance, election of officers, agenda, organization of work, the opening meeting, the Report of the Meeting, and the closing meeting. Section 2, "Account of Proceedings: The…

These 21 articles about the current status of school volunteer programs were originally packaged as background reading for participants in the National School Volunteer Program's November 1978 conference on the role of volunteers in meeting critical national needs. The material, including excerpts from speeches given at the program's February 1978…

Derived from experience with cognitively and emotionally impaired juvenile offenders, several techniques are presented to increase the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Therapy with youth. The techniques provide young people with useful tools for building an effective personal problem solving approach to life. (JAC)

Drug abuse is not confined to the young, but if a young person between the ages of 8 and 20 can be prevented from abusing drugs, chances are that he/she will never have a serious drug problem. Drug abuse prevention means helping young people develop personal strengths and values to reduce the chance that they will hurt themselves or others by…

While states have put in place scores of youth polices, no state can claim to have a single, coherent youth policy that serves as a lens for assessing and planning individual policies. However, across the country, states are working to develop more coordinated approaches to youth policy. This paper highlights the work that states are doing to…