VillageADVISORY

Galo Rodriguez Testifies for Youth Council Bill

Village President and CEO Cites Support of Change to Youth Service Delivery

February 28, 2008

Galo Rodriguez today submitted testimony to the Select Committee on Children as they sought comment on a bill to continue the work begun by the Youth Futures Committee. Dr. Rodriguez has been a participant in Youth Futures Committee discussions about the need for comprehensive state policy on positive youth development for a year.

As an organization actively engaged in helping youth acquire skills they need to be successful citizens and workers, the Village is proud to support the bill now under consideration to create a Youth Policy Council that will leverage all the energies of the many youth-related organizations across Connecticut.

Here are excerpts from Dr. Rodriguez’s testimony:

In its role as integrator of state and local efforts, the Youth Council will coordinate implementation of needed changes in the state’s youth service delivery system, enabling the state to serve all of its youth more effectively.

It will enhance statewide capability to conduct research and analysis on issues related to youth that we currently lack.

The thing I appreciate most is, the Council is not an additional layer of bureaucracy, but a way to align existing agencies, energies, and capabilities for more efficient service to our youth. In addition, the cross cutting functions of data management, needs assessment and facilitation of public-private partnerships would be measurable outcomes of the Council.

• The Village offers comprehensive community based programs that create hope for thousands in the Hartford area, for example, after school programs for teens, counseling for families, and residential support for abused or neglected children.
  
  
• As the Village approaches the Bicentennial of our founding, we are pleased to play a vital role in ensuring that the Hartford area can be a strong community of families who protect and nurture children.

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