Opportunity Youth : Community-Led Solutions for Engaging Disconnected Youth

Across the nation, individuals and community groups are working together to find new and effective solutions to local problems. Recognising that the best ideas do not come from Washington but from communities, President Obama created the White House Council for Community Solutions in December 2010 by Executive Order to encourage the growth and maximise the impact of innovative community solutions and civic participation. Policymakers and youth advocates have begun to focus greater attention on young people who are not working or in school. Generally characterised as "disconnected", these youth may also lack strong social networks that provide assistance in the form of employment connections and other supports such as housing and financial assistance. The purpose of this book is to provide context on the characteristics of youth who are not working or in school, and the circumstances in which they live.