Opportunity Youth Initiative

Our Opportunity Youth Initiative is advocating for policy solutions for young people aged 14-26 across Connecticut who are at-risk or disconnected. This coalition of community organizations collectively serve more than 7,000 young people each year.

Public investment in disconnected youth is essential to promote economic opportunity and social equity and prepare the next generation of workers for a rapidly changing job market.

Learn more about opportunity youth

• Young People First (CT Conference of Municipalities)
• Elevating the Voices of Young People (Dalio Education)
• National Scan of Policies, Practices, and Systems Affecting Young People (Dalio education)
• Connecticut’s Pathways to the Future (Campaign for Working CT)
• Getting Young People Back on Track (Dalio Education)

2025 Policy Agenda

Support the 1,000 young people on waitlists at community-based programs who are ready to reconnect with school or work

• Lack of stable funding hinders young people who ready and eager to re-engage through community programs.
• Services delayed are services denied, leading to unnecessary hardship for our young people and communities.
• There are a variety of programs to help young people get on track that reflect the unique needs of their local communities
• Aligns with Action 17 in Young People First report

Pilot youth-centered service coordination in two communities to provide comprehensive support and resources for 100 young people

• Modeled after the successful Coordinated Access Networks for homelessness response
• A dedicated, full-time staff member in each individual municipality or region will manage a “name by name” list of young people to connect them with cross-sector community-based resources, monitor outcomes, and hold all stakeholders accountable
• This structure enables a wide spectrum of public and private service providers to receive funding to contribute their piece of the puzzle to keep these young people on track, including experts in opportunity youth, childcare, transportation, housing, and whatever else is needed
• The findings from these pilot sites could lead to a robust statewide solution as outlined in the 1st strategic pillar of Young People First

Implement the urgent workforce solutions outlined in Young People First that will directly and quickly help young people thrive

• Aligned Action 3: Revamp CT’s 211 system and develop a new user-friendly application to help at-risk and disconnected youth access existing resources
• Aligned Action 8: Support policies to implement a federal and state Child Tax Credit
• Aligned Action 11: Create an outcomes-based Connecticut Career Accelerator Program to support workforce pathways programs
• Aligned Action 15: Scale transitional employment programs, apprenticeships, and summer employment programs
• Aligned Action 16: Launch the Connecticut Youth Service Corps
• Aligned Action 19: Support workforce reintegration programs for currently and formerly incarcerated youth

Members