Areas of Work

Children's Cabinet Disconnected Youth

• Definition of Disconnected Youth
• Focus of Workgroup on Disconnected Youth
• Workgroup on Disconnected Youth Recommendations 2010
• Children's Cabinet Resources

Definition of Disconnected Youth

In general, disconnected youth are defined as youth age 14-24 who are neither working nor in school. The Cabinet and Advisory Board have agreed to expand this to include those youth at risk of disconnection.

back to top

Focus of Workgroup on Disconnected Youth

The workgroup is focusing on youth 14 through 24 years of age in the following groups:

• In foster care (formerly or transitioning out of), including youth residing informally with kin who receive child only TANF grants (child only TANF cases),
• On probation, or in juvenile or criminal justice facilities (formerly or transitioning out of), and
• Those with incarcerated parents.

---

The work will focus in the following domains:

• Education, training and employment
• Stable housing
• Access to quality health and mental health services
• Connectivity to family and community

The workgroup members include representatives from state and local government, academia, early childhood, health care, business, advocacy organizations and youth services.

back to top