Res. No. 495 Title Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to adopt the Younger Americans Act, which would provide assistance to mobilize and support United States communities in carrying out youth development programs that assure that all youth have access to programs and services that build competencies and character development. Body By Council Members Clarke, Baez, Barron, Boyland, Comrie, DeBlasio, Felder, Fidler, Foster, Gennaro, Gerson, Jackson, Lopez, Monserrate, Quinn, Recchia, Reed, Reyna, Sanders, Stewart, Vann and Liu Whereas, According to the factsheet relating to the proposed Younger Americans Act (H.R. 17, S. 1005) (the "YAA"), many young Americans are growing up without adequate community and family supports; and Whereas, Furthermore, eight million children under the age of 14 spend time without adult supervision on a regular basis; and Whereas, Additionally, at the present time, the United States has no national federal policy to promote positive youth development; and Whereas, The United States General Accounting Office has estimated that currently, after-school programs are meeting only 25 percent of the demand for services; and Whereas, According to the Younger Americans Legislative Status report, the YAA would institute a nationwide youth initiative that would support communities in their efforts to provide youth with services that build on their competencies and aide in their character development; and Whereas, The YAA mandates the creation of a White House office of National Youth Policy that would examine and disseminate each states' best practices regarding the delivery of youth services; and Whereas, Under the YAA, a Federal Council on Youth would be established to advise the President on matters of youth policy; and Whereas, The YAA would provide $5.75 billion that would be disbursed to communities so they may better address five "core needs" facing our youth, including fostering ongoing relationships with caring adults, establishing safe places with structured activities, assuring access to services that promote healthy life-styles, insuring opportunities to acquire marketable skills and competencies, and creating opportunities for community services and civic participation; and Whereas, Under the provisions of the YAA, local communities would be given the flexibility to fund programs, community and youth centers, mentoring programs, and workforce preparation programs that address the highest priority needs of young people in their communities; and Whereas, Furthermore, states would be required under the YAA to allocate between three to seven percent of their funds to programs that serve youth with special developmental needs, and no more than four percent of YAA funding could be allocated for administrative purposes; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to adopt the Younger Americans Act, which would provide assistance to mobilize and support United States communities in carrying out youth development programs that assure that all youth have access to programs and services that build competencies and character development. LS # 1092 09/18/02 #4 |1013| |1013|