The search for youth policy in the United States

The United States has no comprehensive national youth policy. Absent a shared vision, widely embraced at the federal, state & local level, a disconnected patchwork of policies frustrate efforts to guide supports, investments & priorities for young people in the second decade of life. Absent a common & articulated set of core principles, values & approaches across systems & communities, there is no conceptual framework upon which to build positive action for youth participation or youth rights relative to community life, social responsibility or civic engagement. Instead the U.S. has a multiplicity of programs, special interest advocates & system silos that make wise & effective use of public resources difficult if not impossible. In this chapter the authors seek to: (I) identify the role that an integrated national youth policy could play in promoting positive youth development,- (2) review recent efforts to forge new youth policy initiatives & the reasons for their failure,- (3) explore how youth matters are handled in the absence of an articulated youth policy framework; (4) examine efforts to move a state level youth policy framework forward around non-formal learning in the out-of-school time; & (5) offer observations of what it will take to succeed. In this chapter, out-of-school time, after-school & non-school hours are proxy terms for youth work & refer to intentional, most often voluntary, non-formal teaching & learning with young people in community settings -- otherwise called youth development programs or just youth programs in the U.S. References. Adapted from the source document.