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Welcome to the Campaign for a White House Office on Children and Youth. Take Action by contacting the President and Congress today!

The Need
Far too few of our nation’s young people are ready for college, work and life. Just 4 in 10 youth are in school or working, healthy, and connected to their community. Approximately 30 percent of high school students do not graduate on time. For African American and Hispanic students, on-time graduation is a 50-50 proposition. Employers report that 4 in 10 high school students lack the skills needed for work.

The Federal government runs hundreds of programs to serve children and youth ages 0-24, spread across 12 departments and agencies. The vast majority of these efforts are essential and effective; however, they are not part of an integrated, strategic plan to help at-risk populations achieve successful adulthood. Overall, the federal government’s efforts for children and youth are scattershot and these fragmented efforts, contained within narrow silos, are failing America’s young people. Further, few of the efforts designed to help young people have been designed with clear input from the young people the programs serve. America needs leadership which transcends silos, believes in youth voices, and provides a clear vision for success for all federal efforts supporting children and youth.

The Solution: A White House Office on Children and Youth
Establish a White House Office on Children and Youth to provide coordinated leadership and vision across departments and agencies; develop and oversee interagency implementation of a National Youth Strategy laying out the child and youth well-being results our nation must achieve and the reforms necessary to succeed; and provide young people a voice in the policies which impact them directly.

What you can do to help

News

April 23, 2009 -- Senators Dodd, Kennedy, Stabenow and Representatives Miller, Kildee and Yarmuth call on the President to create a White House Office on Children and Youth

Dear Mr. President: We are writing to respectfully request that you create a White House Office on Children and Youth to promote interagency coordination and collaboration on the many issues impacting children and youth today.

March 31, 2009 -- Senator Reid Urges Obama to Create White House Office Focused on Improving the Lives of America's Children

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid send a letter to President Obama, calling on him to establish a White House office headed by a central coordinator“dedicated to meeting the needs and improving the lives of America’s children.”

January 27, 2009 -- Congressman Yarmuth Calls for Creation of White House Office on Children and Youth

Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) sent a letter to President Obama days after he took office calling for him to issue an executive order that would create a White House Office on Children and Youth. The executive order would be similar to legislation introduced by Congressman Yarmuth last year, which is intended to create a continuum of care for youths in need rather than forcing them to seek assistance from numerous disjointed providers in critical areas, including health, education, and foster care. Currently, these services are administered through more than 300 programs under the jurisdiction of a dozen separate federal agencies.