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Washington D.C. - David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, hailed a groundbreaking new study by America’s Promise that outlines the fundamental resources that children need to succeed.
“Across the country, mentoring and youth programs demonstrate every day how caring adults can make a powerful difference in the life of a child. This new study gives us the tools we need to do a better job and to build a sense of urgency around our work,” Eisner said.
“This report reinforces the sad fact that too many children and youth are falling through cracks. The good news is that we know what works to get them on the path of success. National service is deeply committed to providing more mentors and tutors for youth at-risk and to finding ways for every young person to give back to their communities,” Eisner continued.
The “Every Child, Every Promise: Turning Failure Into Action” study finds that when youth are provided with at least four out of five fundamental resources, their life chances for success dramatically increase and damaging gaps separating low-income and minority youth from other youth are significantly reduced.
Unfortunately, the data also show that more than two-thirds of our youth are not currently receiving enough of these resources to benefit from their full effects.
The study (available at http://www.americaspromise.org) measures the presence and impact of the five fundamental resources – or “Five Promises” – that research has shown have a positive impact on the development and lives of America’s youth: caring adults; safe places and constructive use of time; a healthy start and development; an effective education; and opportunities to make a difference helping others.
The report finds that children receiving four or five promises, as compared to youth receiving zero to one promise, are far more likely to be successful, including being twice as likely to get A’s, twice as likely to avoid violence, and 40 percent more likely to volunteer. Moreover, the research shows that receiving four or five of these basic developmental resources has the potential to level the playing field for youth across racial and economic lines.
The Corporation has been a longstanding partner and supporter of America’s Promise, going back to its creation at the 1997 President’s Summit for America’s Future. At the Summit, Presidents Bush, Clinton, Carter, and Ford, with Nancy Reagan representing President Reagan, challenged the country to make children and youth a national priority. Shortly after the Summit, the Corporation launched the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows program, which supported thousands of full-time AmeriCorps members working to provide the five promises to at-risk youth. Many of the Corporation’s governor-appointed state service commissions have taken the lead on promoting the five promises in their states.
The goals of the America’s Promise to provide the key resources to help children and youth succeed are directly aligned with the Corporation’s five-year strategic plan. That plan, released last February, makes “Ensuring a Brighter Future for All of America’s Youth” one of its key priorities and calls for providing mentoring services to 3 million additional children and youth living in disadvantaged conditions; engaging more than 3 million youth from at-risk environments in service; and engaging 5 million college students in service.
The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year, the Corporation provides opportunities for more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. For more information, go to http://www.nationalservice.gov.
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