National Commission on Resources for Youth

The National Commission on Resources for Youth was an American program established in 1970.^[1] The Commission was charged with identifying and promoting youth participation in schools and communities across the United States, and was largely funded by the U.S. Government and the Ford Foundation.

Activities

In addition to publications and studies on a range of youth participation topics, the Commission held meetings, training events and conferences across the country, with youth engagement in schools and community development seeing a significant increase.^[2] The Commission succeeded in seeding national movements in youth voice, youth participation, and community youth development. Aside from defining and fostering these efforts across the nation, the Commission provided expert knowledge and resources to support ongoing activities long after its closure.

The National Commission on Resources for Youth was preceded in federal legislation by the National Youth Administration, a 1930s federally coordinated youth program. Its recent political successor is the Tom Osborne Federal Youth Coordination Act, passed in 2006 to direct federal interaction among youth-serving agencies and grant programs. Several national organizations today trace their roots to the Commission, including the Forum for Youth Investment and Youth On Board.

Publications by the Commission

• Conrad, D.E. (1982, May). Learning from the Field Experience: A Guide for Student Reflection in Youth Participation Programs. New York, NY: The National Commission on Resources for Youth.
• Conrad, D., with D. Harrington. (1981, May). Thinking about the Work Experience: A Manual for Learning and Reflection in Youth Employment Programs. New York, NY: The National Commission on Resources for Youth.
• The National Commission on Resources for Youth. (n.d.). "Kids Can Do Wonderful Things." Resources for Youth Newsletter, VI(I).
• The National Commission on Resources for Youth. (1982, Fall). "These Young People Care!" Resources for Youth Newsletter, XI(I).
• The National Commission on Resources for Youth. (1979). "What If..." Resources for Youth Newsletter, IX(II).
• The National Commission on Resources for Youth. (n.d.). Youth into Adult: Towards a Model for Programs that Facilitate the Transition to Adulthood. New York, NY: National Commission on Resources for Youth.
• The National Commission on Resources for Youth. (1975, December). Youth Participation: A Concept Paper. A Report of the National Commission on Resources for Youth to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Youth Development. New York, NY: National Commission on Resources for Youth.
• Schine, J., with B. Shoup & D. Harrington. (1981). New Roles for Early Adolescents. New York, NY: The National Commission on Resources for Youth.

References

1. ^ (1975) The Review of Education. Redgrave Publishing Company. p 320.
2. ^ (2002) Youth Contributing to Communities, Communities Supporting Youth. Baltimore, MD: Forum for Youth Investment.

External links

• Tom Osborne Federal Youth Coordination Act
• National Youth Development Information Center Federal Youth Coordination Act Information Center
• Rep. Tom Osborne's) (NE03) Press Release on the Federal Youth Coordination Act