CCM Releases Plan to Combat Disconnected Youth Crisis

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities released its Young People First report aimed at tackling the state’s disconnected youth crisis Oct. 9.

“When young people struggle, it affects more than just their individual futures, it impacts the safety, well-being, and long-term prosperity of our community,” said New Haven high school student Rania Das during the report’s release at a Hartford news conference.

A Dalio Education report released earlier this year shows there are currently 119,000 disconnected youth between the ages of 14-26 in Connecticut. 

Many of them are in high school or recent high school graduates who are struggling to fulfill educational requirements and find a sustainable career path.

In March, CCM created the 119K Commission to develop a strategy for addressing the crisis.

Community Approach

Young People First is the commission’s plan to get 60,000 young people back on track in the next decade.

The commission heard from hundreds of young people during a series of meetings around the state over several months.

“We need a community wide approach that includes mentorship, mental health support, and safe spaces where young people can feel heard, understood, and valued,” said Das.

The commission’s strategy focuses on four pillars:

• Coordinating supports for youth at all levels
• Creating stronger conditions for youth success within and beyond schools
• Building and sustaining coalitions
• Increasing capacity in education, workforce, and the social sector

“This plan outlines a path forward to improve the lives of citizens in the state of Connecticut,” said Stratford mayor and CCM president Laura Hoydick during a news briefing at the Legislative Office Building.

Actions

The plan includes 22 “interconnected actions” that will increase investment and add accountability and transparency at all levels.

That accountability includes strengthening public education accountability to improve student outcomes.

The plan also aims to expand career planning and workforce development initiatives like apprenticeships and internship opportunities.

Powerful stories from young residents supporting @CCMAdvocacy's plan to address the disconnected youth crisis highlighted the human cost. There's also an economic cost—at least $750M annually, further emphasizing why we must tackle this issue. #reimagineCT https://t.co/IPIe2gyHPn pic.twitter.com/QMeoh2QZbs

— Chris DiPentima (@ChrisDipentima) October 10, 2024

“We’re hearing from our businesses, in our communities, ‘Where’s the workforce? Where are the young people?’” Carbone said.

She said engaging with organizations like CBIA, education leaders, and DECD are critical to connecting young people with entry-level jobs. 

She said those jobs will help them develop skill sets and understand the expectations of the workforce environment.

Life Skills

“It’s not just about academic success,” said Waterbury’s Erica Soares who spoke at the news conference. 

“What about making sure that you succeed in life? We need to think about access to trade schools, teaching life skills and even changing high school start times to improve student focus and public health.”

Soares said she grew up surrounded by drugs, and experienced sexual assault and homelessness growing up. 

“It’s not just about academic success. What about making sure that you succeed in life?”

Waterbury’s Erica Soares

She said she had mentors, family members, and programs to help her succeed in high school and graduate college. 

“I was one of the lucky ones,” she said. 

“The powerful stories shared by these young people clearly highlight the human cost of the state’s disconnected youth crisis,” said CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima.

“There’s also an economic cost—$400 million annually for state services and $350 million in lost tax revenue—that further emphasizes the need to provide resources and pathways to career and life opportunities.”

Getting It Right

A key piece of the plan centers on building and deeper collaboration between state and local entities, strengthening youth support services, behavioral counseling, and homelessness prevention.

“My advice to people who want to reconnect disconnected youth to school and work is, for one, be persistent and consistent, because a lot of young people need a long time to make changes,” said Stamford’s David Mezard [pictured above].

Mezard shared his story of struggling after being incarcerated at a young age.

He said he dealt with homelessness and addiction, and returned to incarceration before connecting with Domus, an organization that supports young people to overcome obstacles and transform their lives.

“It’s critical that we get this right.”

Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone

Mezard is now a leader on the Domus Works crew.

“Domus never gave up on me and gave me the time to make the changes I needed to make,” Mezard said.

“It’s critical that we get this right,” said Torrington mayor Elinor Carbone, a co-chair of the 119K Commission.

“And that was the approach that we took. To listen to the success stories, the failures, where systems can be shored up, where systems need to be revamped, or where collaboration would really change the trajectory of our young people in their lives.”