The Commission’s work resulted in a Bold Plan for Connecticut

Mission and Vision

The strategy begins with a north star mission for Connecticut: to get 60,000 at-risk and disconnected youth back on track by 2035

In alignment with the north star, the Commission offers a long-term vision: We envision a Connecticut where every young person has equal opportunity to achieve their greatest potential; where families, schools, employers, public institutions, and communities support them along the way; and where people and systems help them get back on track when they struggle. When leadership focuses its efforts and holds one another accountable, Connecticut’s success and economic growth will be advanced for generations to come.

Measurable Goals

By the tenth year, this strategy aims to reduce the number of young people in Connecticut who are at-risk and disconnected by 30,000 people each – a 50% reduction overall

This will involve both preventative actions to keep young people from becoming at-risk and at-risk young people from disconnecting, as well as recuperative actions to get at-risk high school students back on track and reconnect disconnected young people to highquality education and employment. In particular, the strategy focuses on early intervention to get newly disconnected and at-risk young people back on track within a year.

Strategic Pillars

Coordinate supports for youth at all levels of the system

1. Improve visibility of the number and nature of at-risk and disconnected youth and strengthen accountability at state, regional, and local levels

2. Redesign local service delivery to ensure young people have the support they need, supported by strong regional oversight boards and a state-wide Office of Youth Success

3. Revamp CT’s 211 system and develop a new user-friendly application to help at-risk and disconnected youth access existing resources

Create stronger conditions for youth success within and beyond schools

4. Strengthen public education accountability structures and approach to improve student outcomes

5. Reform school policies to be more supportive of the needs of youth

6. Support justice-involved youth and reduce recidivism through a balance of increased diversionary programs, support services, and added community-based accountability

7. Review CT’s K-12 funding formulas to ensure equitable education funding based on student needs

8. Support policies to implement a federal Child Tax Credit

9. Create The 21st Century Fund to reward consolidation in services to reduce administrative overhead and drive more funding to highly effective strategies in school classrooms and in town youth services

10. Engage CT’s federal delegation on federal policy and funding to support success of at-risk and disconnected youth

11. Create outcomes-based Connecticut Career Accelerator Program to support workforce pathways programs

Increase capacity in the system

12. Increase school and educator capacity to support young people at risk of disconnection

13. Strengthen career-connected learning and pathways from education to work

14. Create Support Networks to provide technical assistance for educators, schools, and districts with the highest needs

15. Scale transitional employment programs, apprenticeships, and summer employment programs

16. Launch the Connecticut Youth Service Corps

17. Build the capacity of nonprofits who serve severely disconnected young people

18. Launch Center of Excellence at a CT partner university, focused on at-risk and disconnected youth

19. Support workforce reintegration programs for currently and formerly incarcerated youth

20. Support community recreational hubs and summer enrichment activities to increase emotional engagement, academic outcomes, and employment prospects for at-risk and disconnected youth

21. Fund the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness’ efforts to identify and help young people experiencing homelessness

Build and sustain coalitions

22. Launch a state-level crosssector coalition supported by philanthropic capital involving community, labor, business, civic, faith, philanthropic, and government leaders, forming and advancing a statewide community architecture that enables this strategy to live beyond any single administration at any level; support community-based organizing and advocacy efforts