This fall, representatives of local community based organizations, Bellevue School District, the City of Bellevue, Bellevue College, United Way of King County and Eastside Pathways began to meet and discuss how we might deepen supports of young people beginning in 4th grade through age 26.
Using the emerging work to identify goals and indicators and local and national best practices, a draft framework has been developed and will be presented at the Eastside Pathways Partners Luncheon December 6. The development of a Youth Advisory Council is under discussion and in early January, an Education/Career Action Network will be developed to move the initial goals forward into activities. In addition to the goal statements, ensuring that all youth have the opportunity to build positive relationships with a trusted adult, attention to social-emotional learning and family and community engagement are overarching values of this work.
GOAL: Ensure that youth/young adults are on a pathway to a living wage job
- Ensuring every student has a vision for their career direction (as much as it can be determined), with a corresponding educational pathway
- Every student has access to supports needed and those supports are available for college-bound students (requirements, selection, visiting, application supports, financial aid), both generally and for those most in need of that support (i.e. – those eligible for the college-bound scholarship)
- Youth have access to effective services and supports with specific focus on ELL, transfers, low-income students, special education, disconnected youth, homeless youth, teen parents
- Youth have access to opportunities that provide meaningful ways to stimulate and challenge them
Written by Lori Guilfoyle, Impact Manager, United Way of King County and Co-Leader of the 4th Plus team.