Youth Master Plans Guide Action in Nashville, Grand Rapids and Berkeley

Karpman, Michael, Nation's Cities Weekly

The ability to employ scarce local resources effectively is an important factor in the success of efforts to improve child well-being, particularly in communities where service delivery is fragmented among numerous city and county agencies, schools and nonprofits.

More than two dozen cities have dealt with this challenge by establishing "youth master plans" to better coordinate programs and services for young people. By adapting this concept from land use, economic development and parks and recreation planning, municipal leaders set in motion a process for engaging the community to develop shared objectives and outcomes for children and youth.

In recent months, three cities--Nashville, Tenn.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Berkeley, Calif.--.have moved forward with new youth master plans, each completing a goal 'set as part of their participation in the Mayors' Action Challenge for Children and Families (www.mayorsforkids.org).

"Our most precious community asset is our children," said Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. "I am honored to join my colleagues from across the nation to set forth bold, new goals to collectively support our children …

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Publication information: Article title: Youth Master Plans Guide Action in Nashville, Grand Rapids and Berkeley. Contributors: Karpman, Michael - Author. Magazine title: Nation's Cities Weekly. Volume: 33. Issue: 42 Publication date: November 15, 2010. Page number: 3+. © 2009 National League of Cities. COPYRIGHT 2010 Gale Group.

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