WASHINGTON, DC – Today, critical legislation aiming to improve the coordination of federal youth programs was introduced by Congressman John Yarmuth (D – KY). The Federal Youth Coordination Reauthorization Act builds upon the bipartisan Federal Youth Coordination Act and establishes a White House Office of National Youth Policy to maximize coordination among federal agencies serving children and youth.
“This legislation is critical to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of youth policy through improved coordination of federal youth programs, and we applaud Congressman Yarmuth for his outstanding leadership on this issue,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “The Federal Youth Coordination Act calls for the development of a national strategy complete with quantifiable goals and performance measures, all of which will improve outcomes for children and youth.”
“This bill belongs to Louisville’s youth advocates. In my many meetings and forums that focus on disadvantaged youth, one constant has been the frustration with a fragmented framework that is tangled in red tape. This bill will cut through the bureaucracy by creating a new executive office that will work with states to ensure our service providers get the necessary resources, are able to work more effectively, and can focus on getting kids the help they need,” said Congressman John Yarmuth.
In 2003, President Bush commissioned the White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth to assess federal youth policy and develop recommendations to strengthen the federal response to the needs of children and youth, with a focus on coordination and accountability. Its primary finding was that federal youth policy, administered across 12 departments lacks coordination and focus. This legislation implements several of the recommendations included in the White House Task Force’s report.
Modeled after the Office of National Drug Control Policy, this bill establishes the White House Office of National Youth Policy, to streamline federal youth policy through such means as ensuring alignment, where appropriate, of federal definitions, reporting and eligibility requirements, to remove federal barriers toward the efficient and effective delivery of services for children and youth. It also establishes the National Youth Development Council, composed of Department Secretaries, to facilitate interagency coordination. It also establishes the National Youth Advisory Board, composed of young people, to improve youth policy by more directly engaging youth.