MISSION

“We believe that youth development requires more than identifying specific youth problems,” Commissioner Lovelace said. “One aspect of our strategy is to focus resources on providing services and programs that target the needs of youth ‘at risk’ before they become entrenched in the juvenile justice system.

With the youth development principles as a general framework, the Ad Hoc Committee identified six primary Goals the community should achieve to make an impact on youth violence. The group focused on long-term solutions as opposed to what might be considered “quick-fix” remedies that would lack sustained impact. The six Goals are:

Goal I: The Dayton Community will focus resources on youth at high risk and/or involved in the juvenile justice system in order to reduce the use of drugs and weapons within our community.

Goal II: The Dayton Community will identify all at risk pre-teen/teens and develop a service delivery system to assist them in becoming self-sufficient, law abiding adults.

Goal III: The Dayton community will establish an integrated approach among local governments to foster regional youth development on a priority basis.

Goal IV: The Dayton community will improve the quality of programs, services and activities for youth, including enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of existing programs and developing new initiatives that impact the environmental and economic conditions of Dayton residents.

Goal V: The Dayton Community will ensure that young people are engaged in the development, planning and processes of local governments, businesses and community agencies whose policies and actions affect them.

Goal VI: The Dayton community will conduct ongoing research to help establish youth development initiatives and revise priorities in light of changing needs and circumstances.