To bring at-risk and vulnerable youth into the workforce and to increase collaboration and communication among the state's youth-serving organizations as a means of bringing about systems transformation. The specific vision of the YVT is 'creating a collaborative, sustainable, and performance-focused system that prepares CT's most at-risk youth for success in education, in the global demand-driven economy, in their families, and in their communities.'

1. To plan and implement 'prototype' programs at the local level, based on the Work & Learn Model, that can help at-risk youth through academic instruction and work-related training, as well as additional training in financial literacy and other program components.


2. To address broader system issues such as: data collection, management, and infrastructure; data sharing across agencies; research and evaluation; resource mapping; resource leveraging; and others, in order to bring about systems transformation in CT's youth-serving programs.

Through a series of small work group and sub-group meetings, the Youth Vision Team has made exciting progress in planning a prototype demonstration project to be implemented in the New Haven area, beginning in November 2006 and continuing for up to one year with the initial round of funding.  The project is intended to serve approximately 50 older foster youth (ages 14-21) who are transitioning out of foster care or preparing to do so, and who experience educational challenges (as indicated by their being at least two years behind their peers in academic achievement).  These youth will be participants in the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative funded through a grant from the Jim Casey Foundation, and will receive enhanced services based on the Work and Learn program model.

Similar programs are already in operation in Hartford and Bridgeport, and this demonstration project will establish one in New Haven (an area where there is documented need).  The program will be based on the measurable outcomes developed for the YVT.  This will enable future application of the Results-Based Accountability concepts and approach being developed by the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee.  It will also provide a strong link to the legislatively-driven Youth Futures Committee, which uses many of the same outcomes in the development of a statewide policy for positive youth development.