REGION 2020: YOUTH
WHAT
• To develop a region that provides challenging and positive activities and
programs - such as leadership development, career development, job training
and placement, and education designed to serve youth in a safe environment,
and that ensures developmental progress of young people - strengthening
morals and character, increasing community involvement, and maximizing
their natural
ability.
WHY
• To improve service delivery.
• To increase youth involvement.
• To improve interagency collaboration, communication, coordination.
• To better leverage funding.
WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED
• Birmingham Alliance for Youth (B.A.Y.)
• Regional youth agency providers
• United Ways of the region
• Foundations
• The faith community
• State and local governments
WHO WILL BENEFIT
• Youth
• Communities in the region
• Service agencies
• Funders
HOW
Strategy
Improve coordination and cooperation among existing youth programs within
the twelve county region, work to eliminate barriers to cooperation,
and collaborate on the creation of a clearinghouse or database system
tied to funding sources and critical areas of service.
Action Steps
Region 2020 will work with the Birmingham
Alliance for Youth B.A.Y), or others if necessary, to establish a regional
youth council,
representative of the
twelve county region.
The regional youth council will:
1. Sponsor an annual summit that brings youth, service providers,
sponsors, and interested parties (e.g. neighborhood presidents)
together to determine
needs; gaps in service; and collaboration, cooperation, and
coordination in the areas of service provision, creation and funding. Develop
benchmarks to evaluate the progress made.
2. Create a database that can store and cross-reference available
services, funding sources, needs, individual resources (people),
service locations
and facilities, levels of service, and quality evaluations
that can provide information to users, providers, and sponsors.
3. Coordinate activity with the Alabama Children's Commissioner
and with similar efforts in Mobile, Huntsville and Alexander
City.
Role of Region 2020
• To work with the lead organization on to establish a regional
youth council.
Cost
The Birmingham Alliance for Youth B.A.Y.) already has funding
and a staff person.
