TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a presentation regarding the City of Long Beach Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan two-year update. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In June 2018, the Invest in Youth Report was presented before the City Council by youth leaders, highlighting the challenges faced by youth and their vision for youth in Long Beach to live their best lives. As a result of this effort, in 2019 the City Council authorized $200,000 in one-time funding to develop a plan that would serve as the guiding vision and a framework for responding to the needs of the City of Long Beach’s (City) youth and their families over a three-to-five-year period.
A core team comprised of representatives from the Health and Human Services Department (Health Department), Parks, Recreation and Marine staff and consultants discussed the framing for this effort. This team recognized the importance of including the voices and leadership of youth at the forefront of this work; and hence, the Youth Ambassador role was created. Youth Ambassadors were a diverse group of youth representatives between the ages of 16-24 from throughout the City and were actively engaged in the development of a plan. The Youth Ambassadors participated in several strategic planning trainings, facilitated community forums, co-designed the online and key informant survey instruments, and outreached to and engaged the community to ensure survey data was collected from throughout Long Beach.
As a result of these efforts, the Long Beach Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan (YSP) was presented to the City Council on February 9, 2021. The vision of the YSP is that all youth and adults between the ages of 8 to 24 are healthy and empowered with the necessary resources to develop into their true and authentic selves. The Plan highlights six visionary goals designed to ensure that all Long Beach youth can live safe and healthy lives:
1. Youth Development
2. Physical Health, Mental Health, and Emo...
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