"Dear Senator Carl Levin,
I am the Co-Executive Director of the Detroit chapter of StandUp for Kids, a non-profit all volunteer organization whose mission is to help homeless and street youth. I am writing to urge you to support a $1 million appropriation for the Federal Youth Coordination Act. The Federal Youth Coordination Act creates the Federal Youth Development Council, and requires only a modest $1 million appropriation to implement one of the only pieces of legislation ever passed that will potentially impact millions of youth in the United States. I feel that this is such a necessary appropriation especially when speaking on behalf of homeless youth in our country. According to National Runaway Switchboard, there are over 1.3 million homeless youth living in the US. Homeless youth, without intervention from trusted adults who provide guideance/mentoring programs and services, are at high risk for turning to often illegal means of survival, such as drugs or prostitution.
Youth, particularly at-risk youth and their families, need effective, coordinated, and meaningful services. Youth policies and programs are found in almost every federal department, often working with little coordination or collaboration with others. It is important for you to understand that support services, as well as homelessness education and deterrent programs such that StandUp for Kids provices are highly effective when we reach at risk youth who are struggling in Detroit. The Federal Youth Development Council would bring together those Department and Agency members along with members from the private and youth-serving non-profit sectors, and youth themselves, to increase communication among federal agencies; develop a comprehensive plan to more strategically implement federal youth policy; recommend objectives and goals for federal youth programs; facilitate collaboration on interagency demonstration projects; and provide technical assistance to state-funded youth coordinating councils. Help us finish the job left by the 109th Congress -- please provide $1 million for the Federal Youth Coordination Act!"
I am the Co-Executive Director of the Detroit chapter of StandUp for Kids, a non-profit all volunteer organization whose mission is to help homeless and street youth. I am writing to urge you to support a $1 million appropriation for the Federal Youth Coordination Act. The Federal Youth Coordination Act creates the Federal Youth Development Council, and requires only a modest $1 million appropriation to implement one of the only pieces of legislation ever passed that will potentially impact millions of youth in the United States. I feel that this is such a necessary appropriation especially when speaking on behalf of homeless youth in our country. According to National Runaway Switchboard, there are over 1.3 million homeless youth living in the US. Homeless youth, without intervention from trusted adults who provide guideance/mentoring programs and services, are at high risk for turning to often illegal means of survival, such as drugs or prostitution.
Youth, particularly at-risk youth and their families, need effective, coordinated, and meaningful services. Youth policies and programs are found in almost every federal department, often working with little coordination or collaboration with others. It is important for you to understand that support services, as well as homelessness education and deterrent programs such that StandUp for Kids provices are highly effective when we reach at risk youth who are struggling in Detroit. The Federal Youth Development Council would bring together those Department and Agency members along with members from the private and youth-serving non-profit sectors, and youth themselves, to increase communication among federal agencies; develop a comprehensive plan to more strategically implement federal youth policy; recommend objectives and goals for federal youth programs; facilitate collaboration on interagency demonstration projects; and provide technical assistance to state-funded youth coordinating councils. Help us finish the job left by the 109th Congress -- please provide $1 million for the Federal Youth Coordination Act!"
--Jessica Newman
Tell Congress to help other people like Jessica: http://capwiz.com/mobilize/issues/alert/?alertid=9784226
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