Making a Difference for America's Youth
More than 500 parents, community leaders, educators, researchers,
students, and experts in child development recently participated
in the White House Conference on Helping America's Youth, hosted
by First Lady Laura Bush at Howard University in Washington, DC.
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President George W. Bush, background,
applauds as Mrs. Bush offers her welcoming remarks, at
Howard University in Washington, DC, at the White House
Conference on Helping America's Youth. White House
photo by Paul Morse |
The conference addressed the challenges facing today's youth and
presented programs helping youth avoid at-risk behavior by connecting
them with schools, their communities, and their families.
"I'm encouraged by children and community leaders I have met
around the country who have the compassion and persistence to help
change lives," said Mrs. Bush. "It is very moving and
very American. All of us can shape a world in which good values
are encouraged and children can hope for a healthy, happy, and more
productive future."
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Community Guide
 SAMHSA
Administrator Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W., introduced
the Community Guide to Helping America's Youth
at the conference. The guide is designed to help communities
identify challenges they face and offer specific steps
to improve the lives of boys and girls in their areas.
"Just as it is very important for communities to come together
to help America's youth, it is important for Federal agencies to
work together as partners to support communities," Mr. Curie
said.
In April, the White House convened an interagency workgroup of
nine Federal agencies to develop the community guide, which is intended
to encourage actions in three areas—family, school, and community.
The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, Education,
Agriculture, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior,
the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Corporation
for National and Community Service helped develop the guide.
Their collective efforts produced a user-friendly, interactive
Web site designed to help communities build partnerships, assess
community needs and resources, and select programs that work.
"The essential elements of the new community guide mirror
the key elements of successful prevention efforts," Mr. Curie
pointed out. "These concepts are the core of SAMHSA's Strategic
Prevention Framework and its grant program to states and communities,"
he said.
These concepts include:
- Profiling needs and resources
- Mobilizing capacity
- Developing comprehensive strategic plans
- Implementing evidence-based programs.
This online assessment guide will help local leaders assess what
they are already doing to meet the needs of their young people and
what they can do to help. For example, the assessment guide includes
maps of communities so that law enforcement can plug in high-crime
areas. Communities can use the map to determine services available,
so they can direct these services to underserved parts of their
cities.
Research shows children are less likely to engage in risky behaviors,
including illegal drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, when connected
with parents, family, school, community, and places of worship.
Risky behaviors are among the top causes of disease and early death
among youth.
More than 20 colleges and universities across the Nation simulcast
the conference so that members of their local communities could
participate.
For more information and to view a rebroadcast of the conference,
visit www.helpingyouthconference.org.
For more information on the Community Guide to Helping America's
Youth, visit www.helpingamericasyouth.gov. 
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