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During adolescence, youths gain skills and expand their social networks to transition into the adult world as workers or students or both. Youths who become parents, drop out of high school, age out of the foster care system, or get placed into the custody of the juvenile court system are particularly vulnerable in making the transition to adulthood.
Youths in poor or low-income families that lack financial resources or social connections to address these barriers to a successful transition often suffer the most dire consequences.
Research has revealed that the physical capacity of the brain to make plans, control impulses, and apply reason to decision-making is still developing during adolescence. Youths are not fully capable of assessing the consequences of their choices or actions, and require strong connections to caring adults to seek and receive advice and nurturing that will guide and protect them.
Michigan’s Children works with policymakers and community leaders to advance public policies and programs to ensure that youths and adolescents transition into healthy, happy, productive, and independent adults.
Youth Programs
One of the ways that Michigan’s Children carries out this mission is through a series of youth forums.
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KidSpeak® - A
signature program of Michigan’s Children, this event brings youths to
policymakers to share their concerns on a variety of topics. In 2008,
Michigan's Children hosted two KidSpeak® events. The first in March
brought 34 youths representing eight counties (Calhoun, Eaton, Ingham,
Gennessee, Kent, Mecosta, Muskegon, and Wayne) to the state Capitol
where they met with more than 50 state legislators, policy makers,
business representatives, foundation leaders and others for to talk
about a variety of issues important to them. In October, more than 35
youths participated in KidSpeak® :Youth Voices on Election 2008 at
Detroit City Hall. Teenagers without health insurance, youths
struggling to stay in school, young parents and new voters gathered
with elected officials, community leaders and political candidates to
share their hopes and concerns for the election and challenged
candidates to prioritize children’s issues in their campaigns and
administrations. To view photos from the 2008 KidSpeak events, click here.
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Youth Legislative Day - Since 2001, Michigan’s
Children has offered Youth Legislative Day as a hands-on approach to
teaching the legislative process to youths through total immersion and
role-playing. With the help of select legislators and professional
lobbyists, students receive training in drafting, researching, debating
and voting upon legislation. As if they are elected lawmakers, the
young people then participate in committee hearings in the actual House
committee rooms and a full debate of the mock bills on the House
floor. The practices five youths from around the state a keen
awareness of public policy in an effort to stimulate their further
interest in civic involvement. To read more about this program, click here.
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Youth Voices Changing Public Policy - Part
of the Dropout Recovery & Retention initiative, these forums bring
together policy makers and young people who for a variety of reasons
have struggled to stay in school. In 2008, forums were held in
communities in Wayne, Kent, Genesee, Ingham and Kalamazoo Counties. To
read more about this program, click here.
Our Community’s Children releases Grand Rapids 2009 Teen Profile
Posted 8-5-09
One of Michigan’s Children’s key
community partners, Our Community’s Children has hosted a series of
events designed to unveil the 2009 Grand Rapids Teen Profile and
facilitate further community dialogue around the survey’s results.
There are over 67,000 children and youth between the ages of 0-21
living in the city of Grand Rapids, making up over 34% of the area’s
total population. Over 1,500 Grand Rapids area teens participated in
the survey and gave voice to issues about safety, access to support,
use of free time, aspirations, finance, adults and youth voice. Youth
Commissioners and elected officials spoke about the compelling,
relevant and up-to-date local data compiled in the GR Teen Profile
2009. This data will help inform the development of the city’s Youth
Master Plan which will be a blueprint for the community to improve
outcomes for youth so they are ready for college, work and life. Find
out more about this emerging generation. The series started with a
press conference on July 16 followed by three community forums on July
22, 23 and 29. For more information regarding the community forums,
contact Shannon Harris, Program Coordinator, Our Community’s Children,
at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by phone at (616) 456-3558. For a copy of the Our Community’s Children 2009 Teen Profile Report, click here.
Statewide Kidspeak ® Forum brings youth to the Capitol to participate in an authentic civic engagement experience
Posted: 4-8-08
This year’s Kidspeak event was held on March 13, 2008. 34 youth, representing eight different counties and 13 different agencies (Calhoun, Eaton, Ingham, Gennesse, Kent, Mecosta, Muskegon, and Wayne) attended the event to share their concerns about such issues as superdelegates, teen pregnancy, the new Michigan Merit Curriculum and its potential impact on school dropouts, the lack of youth employment opportunities, and issues that impact youth aging out of the foster care system.
Over 50 policymakers, business representatives, foundations, nonprofit leaders and other statewide community leaders gathered in the Capitol to meet with the young people. A large delegation of legislators were in attendance including Senator Randy Richardville, who formally opened the event and Representative Rick Jones who took part in the listening panel. Additional legislators who participated are pictured with the youth from their districts below. Statewide community leaders who participated on the listening panel included Mike Flanagan, Superintendent of the Michigan Department of Education, Department of Human Services Director, Ismael Ahmed, Alethia Carr, Director, Bureau of Family, Maternal and Child Health, Department of Community Health, Inspector Gary Nix of the Michigan State Police, and Department of Corrections Director, Patricia Caruso.
*This event was made possible due to the generous supported of the DTE Foundation.
For photos from the the event, click here.
Gang Prevention: A Review of Two Very Different Legislative Approaches
Posted 1-17-08
Our Nation’s quest to get a handle on gangs is going down two divergent paths. Two gang prevention models have been introduced recently, one in the Senate and one in Congress. For more information on these bills, and how you can help read the January 11th edition of Issues for Michigan's Children here.
State making strides for older foster care youth
Posted: 9-27-07
Michigan’s Children was successful in spearheading the legislative efforts mandating that the state more comprehensively address the needs of youth transitioning out of foster care. Through this mandate the Michigan Department of Human Services was required to convene an inter-departmental task force on services to at-risk youth transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood in the FY 2006 budget cycle. The task force agreed on the need to implement 21 initiatives. These recommendations were received and approved by the Legislature in September of 2006.
One year has passed since these initial recommendations were adopted by the legislature. A report card has been released by the DHS in September of 2007 that identifies how the state has met these goals. For more information about this initiative, click here. To obtain a copy of the report card click here.
Truancy: A serious problem for students, schools and society
Posted: 8-30-07
Reducing school absences are a top priority for Michigan's Children and Michigan schools. Student absences jeopardize student and school success. Students who are not at school can not receive instruction, and therefore, can not perform well academically. Excessive school absence is a precursor of school dropout and is related to juvenile delinquency. For more information on what Michigan is doing to reduce truancy, click here.
Youth in Transition: How are youth faring in lieu of Michigan’s legislative mandate?
Posted: 6-28-07
In 2006, Michigan’s Children was behind the success of a legislative mandate that the state more comprehensively address the needs of youth transitioning out of foster care. The Michigan Department of Human Services convened an inter-departmental task force on services to at-risk youth transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood. The task force recommended 21 initiatives to eliminate the barriers that were identified in the areas of permanency, education, housing, employment and physical and mental health. These recommendations were received and approved by the Legislature in September of 2006. View the status of these initiatives by clicking here.
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