MENU TITLE: The National Youth Network Series: OJJDP Youth in Action Published: March 1998 Author: Paul Gruber Subject: Juvenile delinquency prevention 4 pages 5,547 bytes ------------------------------ The National Youth Network by Paul Gruber Youth can play a positive role in their communities when they are given a chance. The actions of the National Youth Network provide this opportunity. Who Are We? The National Youth Network was officially established on June 16, 1997, in Baltimore, MD. This Network consists of diverse youth leaders, ages 14 to 21, from across the Nation who are sponsored by youth-serving organizations. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) founded and manages the Network. The youth meet regularly to address ways their organizations can team up to involve more young people in preventing and solving youth problems. These national meetings empower youth to collaborate across youth organizations and to develop projects that prevent crime and violence in communities. The most unique component of this assembly is the special partnership between youth and adults. Vision and Mission The National Youth Network builds upon and recognizes the power and importance of youth leadership by uniting young people and adults, through communication and action, to enable youth organizations and nonaffiliated youth to have a positive, formidable impact in our communities and in our Nation. The mission of the National Youth Network is to serve as a catalyst for youth across the country to prevent crime and victimization and make a difference in their communities by collaborating among youth-focused national, statewide, and community-based organizations; distributing information on successful programs and strategies; advocating youth perspectives to policymakers; promoting the need for positive youth activities through the media; and reaching out to nonaffiliated youth, especially those in the juvenile justice system. Organizational Structure Youth work together through direct, ongoing communication to develop and draft new solutions to the concerns that face teens today. A three-member Leadership Council, made up of youth, oversees all plans and activities of the Network. It also serves as the direct link between the Network and OJJDP. All work done by the Network is reviewed and approved by OJJDP. Teens, Crime, and the Community, a project funded by OJJDP, coordinates the daily operations of the Network. The sponsors provide financial, technical, and material resources for the participating youth. The Network is organized into five committees of youth and sponsoring adults. To meet the objectives stated in the Network's mission, each committee has established priorities to be accomplished during the continuing development of the Network. The Events Committee plans each Network meeting and other large-scale events and organizes the Network's presence at national and regional conferences. The Publications Committee develops fact sheets and bulletins on how youth can get involved in their communities for the Network's Youth in Action series and coordinates information for the Network's Web site. The Public Policy Committee produces materials to involve youth in understanding the legislative and advocacy processes and informs youth of legislation impacting young people. The Public Relations Committee conducts media training and distributes information to youth- focused newsletters and the press. The Sponsors/Outreach Committee engages sponsors in Network efforts and involves nonaffiliated youth in Network activities. Resources To learn more about the National Youth Network, visit our Internet Web site at www.usdoj.gov/kidspage/getinvolved. If you have a story to share about what you or others have done to make a positive difference in your community, write to the National Crime Prevention Council, National Youth Network, 1700 K Street NW., Second Floor, Washington, DC 20006. For a copy of other Youth in Action Fact Sheets and Bulletins, call the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800-638-8736 and ask to be added to the youth mailing list. Sponsoring Organizations The role of the sponsors is to help their youth representatives. Youth are able to use whatever resources their sponsoring organizations can contribute. Current participating organizations include: Barrios Unidos Boys & Girls Clubs of America Child Welfare League of America Children's Express Coalition for Juvenile Justice Communities In Schools, Inc. Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America Mothers Against Drunk Driving National Association of Counties National Campaign to Stop Violence Sergeant Henry Johnson Youth Leadership Academy Southern Regional Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention Center Teens, Crime, and the Community United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. Youth Crime Watch of America Youth for Justice Youthbuild USA, Inc. ------------------------------ Paul Gruber, age 17, wrote this Fact Sheet with help from the Network's Publications Committee. A student at University School of Nashville, in Tennessee, Paul is a member of the Street Law program. He has volunteered his services to community programs since the eighth grade. This year Paul is the youth cochair for the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division youth summits.