Developing Youth Systems
Good schools are essential, but not sufficient for the long-term academic, economic, and civic success of our nation's young people. Rather, an integrated set of supports is needed in families, in all facets of communities, and in schools. Research, community wisdom, and common sense tell us that families, schools, and the broader community need to work together to create integrated systems of support for each child--an approach termed youth systems. Deeply influenced by the fields of developmental science, economics, and public health, a youth system encompasses key developmental supports (what America's Promise calls the Five Promises) integrated across families, schools, and all facets of the community, and aligned with the strengths and needs of each child. A community might not have the human and institutional capacity to support their young people, or the parents might not be able to overcome the extreme barriers presented by poverty in trying to support their children. To support families in under-resourced communities, comprehensive community initiatives (CCIs) have been constructed to strengthen a community's capacity for supporting children and youth. Although CCIs often fall into the trap of taking a scattershot approach to providing supports, there are examples of CCIs throughout the nation that have strengthened youth systems by coordinating services, efforts, and practices focused on improving youth outcomes in their communities. These promising efforts have had a positive impact on the lives of young people, and provide principles to guide communities throughout the country. These efforts include Purpose-Built Communities, and the Promise and Choice Neighborhoods federal initiatives, among others. This brief provides examples of the following youth systems in action that have developed strong, positive youth systems: (1) East Lake Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia; (2) Parramore Kidz Zone in Orlando, Florida; and (3) Self-Enhancement, Inc. in Portland, Oregon.