Millions of American youth lack access to youth development opportunities to help them build the character and competence they need to become successful adults.

* Approximately 8 million children are unsupervised on a regular basis.

* On school days, the hours from 3-6 PM are peak hours for teens to smoke, drink or use drugs, engage in sexual activities, and commit crimes.

* A new study from the YMCA shows over 50% of teens 16 and younger are left unsupervised after school.

* The YMCA study shows that teens who do not engage in activities after school are nearly five times more likely to be 'D' students than those who do.

* Research demonstrates that unsupervised youth are at greater risk of truancy, stress, poor grades, risk-taking behavior, and substance abuse. Youth who spend more hours on their own and begin self-care at younger ages are at increased risk of poor outcomes.

* The U.S. Government Accounting Office estimates that in the year 2002, the current number of out-of-school time programs for school-age children will meet as little as 25% of the demand in some urban areas.

Younger Americans Act Mobilizes Communities to Help Youth

The Younger Americans Act (S. 1005, H.R. 17) was introduced to address the needs of young people, aged 10 to 19. The legislation would provide grants to states to mobilize and support communities in planning and implementing strategies to assure that all youth have access to youth development programs. The bill specifically targets youth that face the greatest challenges, including youth in out-of-home care or those at risk of abuse and neglect.

The Younger Americans Act was introduced in the Senate on June 7, 2001 by Senators James Jeffords (I-VT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Ted Stevens (R-AK), Max Cleland (D-GA), and Chris Dodd (D-CT), and in the House of Representatives on January 3, 2001 by Representatives George Miller (D-CA), Marge Roukema (R-NJ), Benjamin Gilman (R-NY), Bob Clement (D-TN), and Jack Quinn (R-NY). The bill was developed with input from CWLA and other youth serving and advocacy organizations.

Key Provisions of the Younger Americans Act

Access to Five Core Resources

The Younger Americans Act (YAA) provides young people with access to vital youth development resources. It will make available much needed support for community-based efforts to provide:

* on-going relationships with caring adults;
safe places with structured activities during non-school hours;
* access to services that promote healthy lifestyles, including those designed to improve physical and behavioral health;
* marketable skills and competencies through education and youth development; and
* opportunities for community service and civic participation.

Many Eligible Activities

Youths ages 10 and 19 are eligible. The YAA will fund a variety of activities, including:

* character development
* mentoring
* centers and clubs
* non-school hour camps and programs
* sports activities
* risk avoidance programs
* academic enrichment
* cultural enrichment
* youth entrepreneurship
* community service
* civic participation activities
* training or group counseling
* referrals to State certified counselors to provide services

Special Targeting for Youth Who Face Greatest Challenges

The YAA targets youth who face greater challenges, including youth placed in correctional facilities and other out-of-home residential settings; youth who live in areas with high concentrations of poverty; youth living in rural areas; and youth at higher risk due to a history of abuse, neglect, or disconnection from family or school.

Furthermore, to ensure that substantial funds are targeted towards those youths that face greater challenges, the YAA allocation formula incorporates the number of youth eligible for free and reduced price school lunch (see "Allocation of Funds").

Authorizes $5.75 Billion Over Five Years

The YAA authorizes $5.75 billion in funding over five years.

* $500 million in FY 2002
* $750 million in FY 2003
* $1 billion in FY 2004
* $1.5 billion in FY 2005
* $2 billion in FY 2006

Formula for Determining Allocations of Funds

The YAA allocates 95% of the federal funds for state and local programming. The formula for determining the state allotment and for determining the local allotment is based on two factors, equally weighted: 1) the total number of youth aged 10 to 19, and 2) the total number of youth who qualify for free or reduced price school lunch.

Federal funds will be used to supplement, but not supplant, state and local funds that would otherwise be made available for these programs and services.

Local Match

The YAA requires a local funding match. The federal share of funding will be 80% in the first and second year, 70% in the third year, 60% in the fourth year, and 50% in the years thereafter. The match can come from cash or in-kind services. There is also a provision that the federal share of the cost may be adjusted if an agency demonstrates significant economic need.

Establishes Office of National Youth Policy

The YAA will establish an "Office of National Youth Policy" in the Executive Office of the President. The Director of the Office will be appointed by the President and will serve as an advocate for youth in the federal government. The Director will work with a new "Council on National Youth Policy" to establish priorities for funding, develop mechanisms to resolve conflicts between federal programs and organizations supporting youth, and coordinate activities and programs promoted by the YAA.

Administration

The federal agency responsible for administering this new program will be the Families and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) within the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Each state will designate a state agency to develop and administer a state plan for carrying out the provisions of the YAA. The state agency will divide the state into planning and mobilization areas, and designate for each area a public or private agency to serve as the area agency on youth, which will serve as the fiscal agent for the area. The state agency will also make allocations to the area agencies on youth. The allocations to area agencies on youth will be based on the same formula used for state allocations.

Each planning and mobilization area shall have a community board appointed and convened jointly by the Chief Executive Officer of a local funding and coordinating agency and the Chief Executive Officers of units of local government. Community boards are responsible for preparing and implementing the area plan for carrying out the provisions of the act. The area agencies on youth will be under the supervision of the community board.

Encourages Youth Involvement

The YAA contains specific provisions for involvement of youth in the planning, implementation, evaluation and funding decisions of the Act:

* 1/3 of the Council of National Youth Policy will be youth under age 21.
* 1/3 of all the local community boards will be youth under age 21.

Prioritizes Evaluation

The Office of National Youth Policy will conduct biennial evaluations of the impact of programs funded by the YAA. The Area Agencies on Youth (see "Administration") shall compile outcome data and evaluation information and provide an annual report. Priority in awarding grants is given to organizations that are outcome driven.

Prioritizes Coordination

Coordination of activities at and between the federal, state, and local levels is specified in the YAA. The Director of the Office of National Youth Policy has specific coordination functions, as does the state agency. Priority for funding is given to organizations that collaborate among community agencies in providing services under the YAA.

For More Information

To view a complete copy of the bill go to http://thomas.loc.gov, type in S. 1005 or H.R. 17, and click "search." For more information, contact Tim Briceland-Betts, 202-942-0256, bricebet@cwla.org.