title
A resolution supporting the Office of Youth Safety and requesting Mayor Freddie O'Connell ensure that a long-term sustainable approach to Youth Policy and Strategic Plan builds on past work and will extend beyond the current mayoral administration.
body
WHEREAS, at the February 4, 2025, Metropolitan Council meeting, public input from youth and community leaders indicated an imperative need to focus on youth in Nashville and Davidson County; and
WHERAS, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools provides support for youth success in the classroom and through extracurricular activities. Additional support from the Metropolitan Government and community through summer and after-school programs provides substantial assistance to Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools for youth success; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County has initiated and sustained several youth initiatives for the past 15 years, including the Nashville After Zone Alliance ("NAZA") and Power Youth, which have high potential to scale and serve more youth due to their strong partnerships with community organizations; and
WHEREAS, the newly established Department Office of Youth Safety will offer at-risk youth a vital bridge to pathways for youth and neighborhoods and is an essential step in creating a better future for Nashville's youth; and
WHEREAS, the mayor has communicated his intention to transition the Office of Youth Safety out of the mayor's office following its stabilization to ensure its continuity; and
WHEREAS, decades of research have proven that sustainable investment in youth development outside of school time generates short and long-term impacts by contributing to improved school outcomes and successful career and life paths while reducing youth justice issues by as much as 20%. Every dollar invested in youth programs in afterschool space saves at least $3 by increasing kids' earning potential, improving kids' performance at school, and reducing cr...
Click here for full text