Maine Maine Children’s Cabinet’s Children’s Cabinet’s Shared Youth Vision Shared Youth Vision

Connecting the Dots: Connecting the Dots: Policy to Practice Policy to Practice Overview 2010Overview 2010

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How it all relatesHow it all relates

Maine Governor’s Children’s Cabinet

The Federal Shared Youth Vision

The Task Force to Engage All Maine Youth

Shared Youth Vision Council and Juvenile Justice Task Force

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Maine Children’s CabinetMaine Children’s Cabinet

http://maine.gov/cabinet/http://maine.gov/cabinet/

The mission of the Children's Cabinet is to actively collaborate to create and promote coordinated policies and service delivery

systems that support children, families and communities.

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Maine Governor’s Children’s Cabinet

Chair, First Lady Karen M. Baldacci

Commissioners of... Education, Health/Human Services, Corrections, Labor, Public Safety Chief Justice as partner in planning

Executive and Senior StaffResearch and troubleshoot federal and state barriers to effective services

for Cabinet policy consideration

Children’s Cabinet StaffOversee, facilitate and coordinate cross-systems priority

initiatives and various grants

Standing Stakeholder Groups:Early Childhood Growth Council;Shared Youth Vision Council - advise the Cabinet in the steps to refine policies and systems that support the educational, social, emotional, and workforce capacity of all Maine children and youth.

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History of the Children’s CabinetHistory of the Children’s Cabinet

In 1995, The Children's Cabinet was established In 1995, The Children's Cabinet was established to oversee and coordinate the delivery of to oversee and coordinate the delivery of services to children and youth in Maine. The services to children and youth in Maine. The Children's Cabinet was then composed of the Children's Cabinet was then composed of the departments of: Corrections, Education, Health departments of: Corrections, Education, Health & Human Services, and Public Safety. & Human Services, and Public Safety. In September of 2003In September of 2003 Governor John E. Governor John E. Baldacci appointed First Lady Karen M. Baldacci Baldacci appointed First Lady Karen M. Baldacci Chair of the Maine Children's Cabinet and the Chair of the Maine Children's Cabinet and the statute was amended to also include the statute was amended to also include the Department of Labor as a full standing member. Department of Labor as a full standing member.

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MissionMission

To provide cross-agency To provide cross-agency coordinationcoordination, , high-level high-level leadershipleadership, program and , program and policy policy developmentdevelopment with a common mission --- with a common mission --- that will measurably improve the well that will measurably improve the well being of Maine’s children, youth, and being of Maine’s children, youth, and families through evidence-based practices families through evidence-based practices and strength-base approaches to positive and strength-base approaches to positive child and youth developmentchild and youth development

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How the Children’s Cabinet adds How the Children’s Cabinet adds Public ValuePublic Value

Coordinates approaches to the delivery of services;Coordinates approaches to the delivery of services;

Establishes administrative priorities across departments and Establishes administrative priorities across departments and agencies/bureaus;agencies/bureaus;

Distributes through its Senior Staff and the Regional Children’s Distributes through its Senior Staff and the Regional Children’s Cabinets Pooled Flexible Funds to fill one-time family needs where Cabinets Pooled Flexible Funds to fill one-time family needs where there is no other eligibility-related service available to keep a child or there is no other eligibility-related service available to keep a child or teen safely in the home;teen safely in the home;

Leverages resources both human (staff) and financial, that Leverages resources both human (staff) and financial, that maximizes funding by collaborative grants and best use of federal maximizes funding by collaborative grants and best use of federal funding streams, as mandates allow.funding streams, as mandates allow.

Operationalizes the Governor’s commitment to creating better Operationalizes the Governor’s commitment to creating better outcomes for children and youth in Maine.outcomes for children and youth in Maine.

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COLLABORATIONCOLLABORATION

IS THE KEY!IS THE KEY!

Working together the Working together the

Partners have accomplished the Partners have accomplished the following:following:

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The Federal Shared Youth The Federal Shared Youth Vision PartnershipVision Partnership

http://www.doleta.gov/ryf/ http://www.doleta.gov/ryf/

A Federal Partnership between the United States Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, Transportation, the United States

Social Security Administration, and the Corporation for National & Community Service.

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Creating a Collaborative Approach Creating a Collaborative Approach to Prepare Youth for Success in a to Prepare Youth for Success in a Global, Demand-Driven EconomyGlobal, Demand-Driven Economy

In response to the In response to the 2003 White House Task 2003 White House Task Force Report for Disadvantaged Youth, Force Report for Disadvantaged Youth, a a Federal Interagency Work Group was Federal Interagency Work Group was created to:created to:enhance communication, coordination, and enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration among Federal agencies, andcollaboration among Federal agencies, and

ensure that well-designed and coordinated ensure that well-designed and coordinated programs provide the neediest youth opportunities programs provide the neediest youth opportunities to successfully transition to adult roles and to successfully transition to adult roles and responsibilities. responsibilities.

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Federal Youth Vision PartnersFederal Youth Vision Partners

US Department of EducationUS Department of EducationUS Department of Health & Human ServicesUS Department of Health & Human ServicesUS Department of Housing & Urban US Department of Housing & Urban DevelopmentDevelopmentUS Department of JusticeUS Department of JusticeUS Department of LaborUS Department of LaborUS Department of TransportationUS Department of TransportationSocial Security AdministrationSocial Security AdministrationCorporation for National & Community ServiceCorporation for National & Community Service

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Prioritized investments for:Prioritized investments for:

Youth in foster care or aging out of foster careYouth in foster care or aging out of foster careChildren of incarcerated parentsChildren of incarcerated parentsCourt involved youth or those at-risk of Court involved youth or those at-risk of involvementinvolvementMigrant youthMigrant youthYouth with disabilitiesYouth with disabilitiesNative American youthNative American youthHomeless and runaway youthHomeless and runaway youthOut of school youthOut of school youthHigh school drop-outsHigh school drop-outs

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Identified State Challenges and Identified State Challenges and Federal Opportunities:Federal Opportunities:

The need for information on The need for information on resources and services across resources and services across programs/agenciesprograms/agencies

Engagement of state/tribal leadershipEngagement of state/tribal leadership

Models for collaborationModels for collaboration

Common message/common languageCommon message/common language

Continued support of teamsContinued support of teams

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In response to requests for In response to requests for additional resources:additional resources:

A “Solutions Desk” was created to provideA “Solutions Desk” was created to provide a a technical assistance (TA) resource that will:technical assistance (TA) resource that will:

Provide a gateway to each of the federal Provide a gateway to each of the federal partners’ resource centers, clearinghouses, and partners’ resource centers, clearinghouses, and training and technical assistance providers, and training and technical assistance providers, and

Assist State Teams with their Shared Youth Assist State Teams with their Shared Youth Vision activities.Vision activities.

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The Federal Partnership is The Federal Partnership is Moving Forward!Moving Forward!

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Resources:Resources:

White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth Final Report,White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth Final Report, October 2003October 2003

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/docs/white_house_taskffohttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/docs/white_house_taskfforce.pdfrce.pdf

““New Strategic Vision for the Delivery of Youth Services Under New Strategic Vision for the Delivery of Youth Services Under the Workforce Investment Act.”the Workforce Investment Act.” (Training & Guidance Letter No 3-04, (Training & Guidance Letter No 3-04,

http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL3-04.pdfhttp://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL3-04.pdf

““TEGL 28-05: Expanding ETA’s Vision for the Delivery of Youth TEGL 28-05: Expanding ETA’s Vision for the Delivery of Youth Services Under WIA to Include Indian and Native American Services Under WIA to Include Indian and Native American Youth and Youth with Disabilities.” Youth and Youth with Disabilities.” http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2224http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2224

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The Task Force to Engage The Task Force to Engage Maine’s YouthMaine’s Youth

http://www.mainesupportnetwork.org/taskforce/http://www.mainesupportnetwork.org/taskforce/

The mission of the task force is to promote success for all youth by

engaging school age youth and their families in educational and/or

vocational programming. 

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The Governor’s MandateThe Governor’s Mandate

The specific mandate was to:The specific mandate was to:– create by June 30, 2007 a collaborative plan create by June 30, 2007 a collaborative plan

identifying strategies to engage Maine’s youth into identifying strategies to engage Maine’s youth into school and work school and work

– review state and national research and data on review state and national research and data on challenges and solutionschallenges and solutions

– develop by December, 2006 statewide policy and develop by December, 2006 statewide policy and legislation that ensures any student experiencing legislation that ensures any student experiencing disruption in their educational program and/or disruption in their educational program and/or receives instruction in non-traditional settings are receives instruction in non-traditional settings are awarded credits or competency of standards that awarded credits or competency of standards that meet Maine state graduation requirements based on meet Maine state graduation requirements based on demonstrated skill acquisition. demonstrated skill acquisition.

– report findings to the Governor and Commissioners.  report findings to the Governor and Commissioners. 

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Questions that guided the Task Questions that guided the Task ForceForce

Why are youth becoming disengaged from Why are youth becoming disengaged from school and/or work?school and/or work?

Who are these youth?Who are these youth?

What are current strategies?What are current strategies?

How do community and state resources How do community and state resources connect with schools?connect with schools?

How do we prevent youth from disengaging, How do we prevent youth from disengaging, intervene when they are at risk and re-engage intervene when they are at risk and re-engage youth when they have left school and work?youth when they have left school and work?

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Reasons for ConcernReasons for ConcernIn 2004 Maine experienced a 75% increase in the number of teens, ages In 2004 Maine experienced a 75% increase in the number of teens, ages 16 to 19, who were not in school or working, pushing the share of idle 16 to 19, who were not in school or working, pushing the share of idle teens to 4,527 or 7% of youth (Maine Children’s Alliance)teens to 4,527 or 7% of youth (Maine Children’s Alliance)As of January, 2006, 2255 children were in the care and custody of As of January, 2006, 2255 children were in the care and custody of DHHS.DHHS.Of the 1,048 youth that entered care since 10/1/04 and were still in care Of the 1,048 youth that entered care since 10/1/04 and were still in care as of 11/1/06as of 11/1/06– 38% (399) youth have had 1 placement,38% (399) youth have had 1 placement,– 28.5% (300) have had 2 placements,28.5% (300) have had 2 placements,– 17% (179) have had 3 placements and17% (179) have had 3 placements and– 16.1% (170) have had 4 or more placements in that 2 year period.16.1% (170) have had 4 or more placements in that 2 year period.

1,141 youth were reported as homeless by DOE (2006)1,141 youth were reported as homeless by DOE (2006)In 2005 there were 417 committals to juvenile correctional facilities and In 2005 there were 417 committals to juvenile correctional facilities and 1,870 children and youth were detained (Maine DOC)1,870 children and youth were detained (Maine DOC)School administrators report that 35% to 45% of their students are “at School administrators report that 35% to 45% of their students are “at risk” (JMG, 2006)risk” (JMG, 2006)

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Target PopulationTarget Population

The recommendations are designed to address The recommendations are designed to address the challenges of Maine’s youth who are not the challenges of Maine’s youth who are not engaged, or who are at risk of disengaging from engaged, or who are at risk of disengaging from school or work. Disengagement may result from school or work. Disengagement may result from a variety of conditions that may or may not be a variety of conditions that may or may not be within the youth’s control. They include issues within the youth’s control. They include issues related to high mobility as often experienced byrelated to high mobility as often experienced by– youth in the foster care system, youth in the foster care system, – youth with psychiatric illness, youth with psychiatric illness, – youth who are homeless, youth who are homeless, – youth who live in poverty and youth who live in poverty and – youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system.youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system.

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The Task Force’s The Task Force’s RecommendationsRecommendations

1.1. Increase capacity to identify, track and analyze the status of youth Increase capacity to identify, track and analyze the status of youth to inform decision making, allocate resources, and assure to inform decision making, allocate resources, and assure accountability to Maine’s youth and families.accountability to Maine’s youth and families.

2.2. Provide equitable access to a spectrum of high quality learning Provide equitable access to a spectrum of high quality learning and service opportunities utilizing a youth-driven, family-centered and service opportunities utilizing a youth-driven, family-centered approach to policy development, services and supports.approach to policy development, services and supports.

3.3. Collaborate to develop a process so agencies can cross-Collaborate to develop a process so agencies can cross-reference outcomes or policies and services for implementation, reference outcomes or policies and services for implementation, efficiency, and reduction of cross-purpose programmingefficiency, and reduction of cross-purpose programming

4.4. Implement and evaluate “An act to implement the Implement and evaluate “An act to implement the recommendations of the task force to engage Maine’s youth recommendations of the task force to engage Maine’s youth regarding successful school completion. regarding successful school completion.

5.5. The final recommendation calls for an annual cross-departmental The final recommendation calls for an annual cross-departmental report to the Governor that cites the status of the action steps report to the Governor that cites the status of the action steps contained in the report and the impact on policy and program contained in the report and the impact on policy and program changes.changes.

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Maine Shared Youth Vision Maine Shared Youth Vision Council – Ready By 21 FocusCouncil – Ready By 21 Focus

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What are we asked to do?What are we asked to do?We are asked to promote collaboration and We are asked to promote collaboration and improved communications among the various state improved communications among the various state agencies and community based partners.agencies and community based partners.We are asked to lead the effort to advise and We are asked to lead the effort to advise and address issues confronting youth ages 9-24 in address issues confronting youth ages 9-24 in transitions.transitions.We are asked to be guides of the development and We are asked to be guides of the development and implementation of strategic plans.implementation of strategic plans.We are asked to review all child/youth population We are asked to review all child/youth population needs with priority given to those youth in transition.needs with priority given to those youth in transition.We are asked, will we answer?We are asked, will we answer?

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The Partnership PriorityThe Partnership Priority

The Council shall focus on the following The Council shall focus on the following Partnership Priorities, determine goals and Partnership Priorities, determine goals and primary action steps to address each over time primary action steps to address each over time that are aligned with the Task Force that are aligned with the Task Force recommendations, and evaluate progress:recommendations, and evaluate progress:

1.1. Public and Private PartnershipsPublic and Private Partnerships

2.2. Youth and FamilyYouth and Family

3.3. Community Community

4.4. Fiscal ResourcesFiscal Resources

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Maine’s Dropout Prevention Maine’s Dropout Prevention SummitSummit

20092009

What we learnedWhat we learned

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The Voice of Maine’s YouthThe Voice of Maine’s Youth

Don’t call me a dropoutDon’t call me a dropout

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I am not…I am not…

A DeadbeatA Deadbeat

A loserA loser

Someone who doesn’t care about my Someone who doesn’t care about my futurefuture

Someone who is going no whereSomeone who is going no where

I am a personI am a person

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Weaving the strands of the summit Weaving the strands of the summit togethertogether

America’s Promise Alliance 5 Promises: America’s Promise Alliance 5 Promises: 1.1. Caring AdultsCaring Adults2.2. Healthy StartHealthy Start3.3. Safe Places in and after schoolSafe Places in and after school4.4. Opportunity to give backOpportunity to give back5.5. Marketable SkillsMarketable Skills

Listen to our youthListen to our youthHonor youth and families history and cultureHonor youth and families history and cultureAvoid LabelsAvoid LabelsConnect the dots: Create a plan with youth and family Connect the dots: Create a plan with youth and family at the centerat the center

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Maine joined with 49 other Maine joined with 49 other statesstates

To make school completion a priority. You are To make school completion a priority. You are part of a national movement to give all students part of a national movement to give all students the opportunity to graduate from high school, the opportunity to graduate from high school, ready for college and workready for college and work

““Ready By 21 and Beyond”Ready By 21 and Beyond”

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The New 3 R'sPromising Schools Where

Everyone Matters

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Words from the Children’s Words from the Children’s Cabinet Cabinet

Multiple PathwaysMultiple Pathways

Drop the JargonDrop the Jargon

Cross system data sharingCross system data sharing

Focus on strengths and assets of our youth Focus on strengths and assets of our youth and their parents/caregiversand their parents/caregivers

Identify barriers (policy and practices) getting Identify barriers (policy and practices) getting in way of successin way of success

Keep pushing us—we will back you up when Keep pushing us—we will back you up when its possibleits possible

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Whatever it takes…Whatever it takes…

……to move the Maine Marksto move the Maine Marks

90% High School graduation rate from 90% High School graduation rate from 77%77%

41% to 56% college completion rate41% to 56% college completion rate

48% to 56% community college 48% to 56% community college completion ratecompletion rate

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2009 2009 Dropout PreventionDropout Prevention Next Steps Next Steps

Develop an effective plan through Eight District Develop an effective plan through Eight District SYV Councils SYV Councils Engage community: start conversations with Engage community: start conversations with youth, parents, teachers, agencies, businessesyouth, parents, teachers, agencies, businessesHold a regional summit to rally community to Hold a regional summit to rally community to support positive youth developmentsupport positive youth developmentUse Use data to identify prioritiesdata to identify prioritiesBuild strong partnerships to make lasting Build strong partnerships to make lasting change happen at local and regional levels as change happen at local and regional levels as partners with the statepartners with the state

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Juvenile Justice Task ForceJuvenile Justice Task ForceCo-chairs: Chief Justice, First Lady, Law School DeanCo-chairs: Chief Justice, First Lady, Law School Dean

By September 2010, in conjunction with the Children’s Cabinet and appropriate state agencies, establish EIGHT DISTRICT Coordinated Councils for the purpose of promoting integrated services and strategies across

Maine related to health, education, juvenile justice, and economic security/employment. The initial goals of the Councils will be to implement the recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Task Force and the recommendations of the 2009 Dropout Prevention Summit.

Establish a statewide goal to achieve a 90% high school graduation rate by 2016, and 95% by 2020.

By 2011, implement uniform statewide suspension, expulsion, zero tolerance, and truancy policies.

Create multiple pathways for educating children and youth by working with the Department of Education in the development of a strategic plan (2010).

Reduce reliance on incarceration and pre-adjudication detention by fifty percent (50%) in the next five years.

Task Force Recommendations Cont’dTask Force Recommendations Cont’d Adopt and implement a quality assurance system, an accreditation system, or a set of standards that ensure effective case management for all detention alternatives to community based programs, and court proceedings.

By 2014, increase by 50% the number of children and youth in Maine who have access to quality early childhood education, and proven prevention strategies and positive youth development .

By September 2010, detail a statewide system for in-home and out-of-home services and placements for youth in the juvenile justice system that ensures high-quality programming that is sufficient and accessible.

By September, 2010, develop a plan to identify an on-going mechanism for providing flexible funding for youth who are served by multiple state agencies, utilizing resources from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. This plan will also include funding options for in-home and out-of-home services and placements for youth in the juvenile justice system.

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OutcomesOutcomes

Legislation passed (so far) to include:Legislation passed (so far) to include:– An Act to Increase Maine’s High School Graduation An Act to Increase Maine’s High School Graduation

RatesRates– Resolve, To Implement the Recommendations of the Resolve, To Implement the Recommendations of the

Juvenile Justice Task ForceJuvenile Justice Task Force– Drafted District Council Ready By 21/Benchmarks for Drafted District Council Ready By 21/Benchmarks for

strategic planningstrategic planning– Plan for staffing District CouncilsPlan for staffing District Councils– Engagement of CBO, state agency, judicial, and Engagement of CBO, state agency, judicial, and

school leadersschool leaders

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Children’s Cabinet Legacy PlanChildren’s Cabinet Legacy Plan

Inclusive of Shared Youth Vision and Inclusive of Shared Youth Vision and Dropout Prevention Summit Dropout Prevention Summit RecommendationsRecommendationsIncludes benchmarks aligned with trend Includes benchmarks aligned with trend data (Maine Marks)data (Maine Marks)Honors the Ready By 21 FrameworkHonors the Ready By 21 FrameworkPrepares the next administration with Prepares the next administration with recommendations for ongoing positive recommendations for ongoing positive change (See handout)change (See handout)