HARTFORD, CONN (WTIC Radio)-The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities has created a panel of municipal leaders to address the issue of at risk and disconnected youth.
The panel is called the 119 thousand commission, to reflect the number of children falling through the cracks.
The 15-member panel plans a series of forums starting this month through October, addressing issues including poverty, homelessness, housing, child welfare, education and employment.
The panel is made up of mostly municipal leaders The forums begin this month and run through October.
“CCM again is compelled to act. This 119K Commission will use the work done by Dalio Education and the Boston Consulting Group, coupled with the feedback/lessons learned through our forums, as its guide to create an actionable statewide strategy that seeks to tackle this crisis,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO.
“This is an issue that is affecting towns big and small. I’ve said that the nearly 120,000 children at-risk or disconnected should be a wake-up call for all of us. The partnerships and ideas that the Commission will seek to cultivate and flush out will help it to deliver on the promise of getting these young people back on track.”
The Commission will have eight regional, public meetings across the state over eight months. The first six meetings will also include a public hearing portion. Members of the public are encouraged to join Commission members in person to submit written comments, provide oral testimony, or to simply be in attendance. Alternatively, the Commission welcomes members of the public to submit written testimony whether or not they plan to join the Commission in person. The public’s input will be invaluable to the Commission as they seek to shape a statewide strategy.
“Getting disconnected and at-risk young people back on track is essential not only to their individual wellbeing and future prospects, but also to Connecticut’s long-term financial health. We’re at our strongest when everyone is participating, both in the economy and within their communities. Letting even one child slip through the cracks is a tragedy, and 119,000 disconnected youth is an emergency. We should attack this issue with the urgency it deserves, knowing that the longer we wait, the more young people will be added to that number, said Treasurer Erick Russell.
“I applaud CCM and municipal leaders for rising to the occasion and committing to doing this work. There is no singular cause for youth becoming disengaged and there’s no singular solution. Instead, there is a need for collaboration and research that spans state and municipal government, nonprofits, and local schools. The broad range of expert input and public feedback sought by the Commission will help shape comprehensive strategies specifically tailored to address the needs of these young people and their families.
