1. Problem-Free isn’t Fully Prepared: Why Focusing on Readiness Matters Now More than Ever
Karen Pittman
The Forum for Youth Investment
October 15th Luncheon Keynote
Institute for Youth Success

2. Problem Free Isn’t Fully Prepared...
February 2006
Problem Free Isn’t Fully Prepared...
Civic Engagement
Educational Attainment
Physical Health
Vocational Readiness & Success
Social & Emotional Health
Delinquency
& Violence
Pregnancy
& HIV/AIDS
Core Supports
&
Opportunities
Dropouts & Illiteracy
Unemployment & Under-employment
Substance Abuse,
Suicide, Depression

3. The U.S. Has a Laser Focus on High School Graduation Rates

4. Does graduation equal readiness? Not really.
4 in 10 of over 400 U.S. employers from across industries reported that high school graduates who applied for entry level jobs were deficient in top needed skills such as communications, problem-solving, teamwork, work ethic (e.g. time management, persistence)
In addition to the research on readiness, we hear concerns from employers:The top needed skills fell into five categories:
Professionalism/Work Ethic
Teamwork/Collaboration
Oral Communications
Ethics/Social Responsibility
Reading Comprehension
There is increasing agreement among educators, employers and youth themselves around the skills needed for the 21st century.
And as you can see, not only are there concerns regarding youth with a high school diploma, but also youth with a 4 year degree.

5. Too Few Young Adults Are Doing Well
February 2006
Too Few Young Adults Are Doing Well

6. If NRC-Named Supports Were Provided Steadily
In adolescence: youth with supportive relationships, as they enter high school, for example are 5 times more likely to leave high school “ready” than those with weak relationships…
In young adulthood: … and those seniors who were “ready” at the end of high school were more than 4 times as likely to be doing well as young adults.
- Finding Out What Matters for Youth: Testing Key Links in a Community Action Framework for Youth Development, 2002

7. The Reality: We Know What It Takes to Support Development
February 2006
The National Research Council reports that teens need:
Physical and psychological safety
Appropriate structure
Supportive relationships
Opportunities to belong
Positive social norms
Support for efficacy and mattering
Opportunities for skill-building
Integration of family, school and community efforts

8. Setting Quality Matters
School, Work, Life Success
Readiness Skills
Youth
Engagement
Setting
Quality

9. Gallup Student Poll Finding:
Only 1 in 4 students is hopeful, thriving and engaged in school!
Finally, youth themselves are telling us their concerns. In , the Gallup Organization conducted a poll of over 700,000 young people across the nation, asking them about their daily experiences and aspirations for the future.
They found that only 1 in 4 students reported being hopeful, thriving and engaged in school, so that means that 75% would not identify with all three of these very important factors. Hope, engagement and wellbeing are all actionable targets as indicators of future youth success.

11. The Readiness Practices

12. The Practice Dilemma The Official doesn’t explicitly name Developmental
Required or Established Practices codified by each system or setting as necessary for the achievement of official outcomes
Official
Practices ?
Developmental
Practices
Informal or optional practices that support growth and development and are necessary for the development of youth’s sense of agency

13. System and Setting Traps
The Big Questions: #1. What happens when Official doesn’t include Developmental?
System and Setting Traps
Readiness Gaps
#2. What can be done to change the paradigm?
Abilities and Practices
Maps

14. Ready Children & Youth
Struggling
Ready
Thriving

15. Make the Invisible Visible
Name Common Skills Needed to meet the goals set by each
Education Systems
Child Welfare & Juv. Justice Systems
Workforce Development Systems
Health & Prevention Services
Civic & Community Organizations
The Abilities Backpack