Promising solutions to replace poverty and inequality with opportunity for all

Today's youth are tomorrow's leaders and decision makers. They are the future teachers, business owners, parents, and community members. Unfortunately, many youth face a variety of obstacles and complex problems related to education, employment, mental health, and access to health care that often intersect and can thwart healthy development. As youth make the important and sometimes difficult transition from childhood to adulthood, families, communities, as well as public and private partners, play an essential role in providing critical opportunities and supports. 

Poverty and homelessness, community violence, and barriers to health and mental health care are among the barriers far too many youth face to healthy development. The uninsured rate of young Illinoisans ages 18 to 24 was 25.7 percent in 2005. Nearly 70 percent of Illinois children in the juvenile justice system have mental health problems. Approximately 40 percent of the near 25,000 homeless in Illinois youth were parents with one or more children of their own. These issues add up to significant individual and societal costs, now and in future years.

Many youth are not prepared to succeed in today's workplace or to participate in the workforce of the future. Nearly one-quarter of youth ages 18 to 24 do not have a high school diploma. The graduation rate for Hispanic, African American, and Native American youth is only 50 percent. The unemployment rate for young people ages 16 to 24 is more than six times higher than for the overall population. Ultimately, people who grow up in poverty are more likely to live in poverty later in life. Addressing youth poverty is one way to stop the intergenerational cycle of poverty. 

Youth who are employed or involved in educational activities leading to employment are much less likely than their unemployed peers to engage in negative behavior such as dropping out of school, becoming teen parents, or using illegal drugs. A study of youth community service projects found that every dollar invested in youth results in more than two dollars returned to the economy in the form of wages and reduced public benefits.

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights is a leading provider of programs and services to vulnerable populations and has extensive expertise developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving programs and services for vulnerable youth, including those experiencing homelessness, involved with the juvenile justice system, and immigrant and refugee youth. Through programs and services across the spectrum of individual and family need, Heartland Alliance is leading the way in providing innovative and effective solutions to some of our nation's most pressing issues. The following principles guide Heartland Alliance's youth development work and related advocacy efforts:

Support wellness with comprehensive physical and mental health care

Many children and youth have limited or no access to health providers and services. Currently half of all children in the United States do not have on-going quality health care from a regular medical provider and nearly 40% of Illinois children did not visit a doctor in the past year. More than 20% of children living in the United States have a diagnosable mental health problem, yet only 1 in 5 of these children receive services. These unmet health needs can become serious health issues and increased costs in the future. In some cases the access barriers are due to cost and a family's ability to pay. In others, the location and availability of providers can be a barrier. Providing low or no-cost services such as medical, mental health, dental and health education services in the school setting where many children already are on a daily basis, is an effective way to promote health and wellness among students and is a cost effective investment of public dollars.

Offer array of service options across the continuum of need

Because a young person's experience with the juvenile justice system or homelessness is not distinct from the barriers to education that they face or their need for mental health treatment, the service delivery system must connect related youth programs and services to form a comprehensive network. A strategic vision that focuses on coordination points across youth programs and services, particularly at important times of transition, is needed to maximize investments Illinois has made in programs and services to prepare youth for adulthood.

Link skill development and supportive services with paid employment

Many youth are in need of opportunities to build life and job skills, gain work experience, and earn education and training credentials that will serve them later in life. Youth that are disconnected from school and work, individuals with a criminal record, and homeless youth face particular challenges. Transitional Jobs (TJ) is a practical workforce strategy designed to overcome employment obstacles for people with barriers to employment through time-limited, wage paying jobs that combine real work, skill development, and supportive services to help participants transition rapidly and successfully into the labor market. Youth in particular benefit from the opportunities to build a work history and develop solid work references, complete basic education and obtain a GED or high school diploma in a flexible schedule that is built around work, and be exposed to a realistic range of occupations and training applicable to future job. Successful TJ programs have been found to promote higher job retention rates, lower turn-over, less recidivism, less long-term reliance on public benefits, higher wages over time, and less child poverty.

Enact policy change that integrates best practices and effective solutions

Some youth are disconnected from school or work due to a lack of opportunities while others have experienced a unique crisis or barrier. Public policy can have a significant impact on helping youth and their families stabilize, gain skills, and reconnect with effective systems and supports so they are prepared for a successful transition to adulthood. Based on Heartland Alliance's unique service-based expertise, we support the following policy and funding strategies. 

• Federal and state governments must invest in new and existing school health centers that offer comprehensive health services to youth.
• Federal and state governmental entities serving youth must create coordinated program standards across issue areas and align mechanisms for funding, service delivery, and reporting in order to facilitate collaboration and comprehensive services.
• Congress must pass legislation and allocate funding to invest in effective workforce development strategies, such as transitional jobs, for vulnerable youth. 

Policy Success

Learn more about our public policy successes in the arenas of economic security and health care.