2014 National Convening Skills Presenations Portland Plan | Page 44
THE PORTLAND PLAN
Thriving Educated Youth
Element 2
Shared ownership for
youth success
Government, private sector and educational partners in Multnomah County
are committed to strategically aligning resources and efforts through the
Cradle to Career initiative, an approach modeled on the successful Strive
Partnership in Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky, and managed by All
Hands Raised.
Guiding Policies
T-4
The goals of Cradle to Career are for all students to:
Be prepared for school.
Be supported inside and outside of school.
T-5
Succeed academically.
Enroll in post-secondary education or training.
Graduate and begin a career.
The Cradle to Career initiative is based on the premise that the community
at large — parks and recreation providers, service organizations, public
safety partners, businesses and neighbors, among many others — not just
educational institutions, are responsible for youth success.
Through Cradle to Career partner agencies and organizations work
collectively toward a shared set of goals deemed to create the biggest
difference. Cradle to Career highlights the power of collective impact: how
large-scale social change can best occur when resources and efforts are
closely aligned among cross-sector partners.
T-6
T-7
T-8
The structure for Cradle to Career includes:
A shared community vision, developed with the participation of
engaged leaders.
Evidence-based decision making, looking at community-level
outcomes.
T-9
Conduct outreach and dialogues
with the public, including youth and
their families, about educational
goals, desired outcomes and
strategic interventions that will
improve the success of our public
schools.
Base decisions on collectively
developed indicators, ensuring
that d ata is disaggregated to
understand and address disparities
in achievement.
Focus strategies and resources
towards needs-based interventions
that yield the highest impact, with a
focus on continuous improvement.
Support funding strategies and
partnerships to ensure increased
affordability and access to early
childhood and higher education.
Provide meaningful opportunities for
youth to participate in decisions that
affect their lives.
Encourage intergenerational
mentoring, tapping the knowledge
and experience of Portland’s older
adults.
Collaborative action to address collectively-defined priorities.
Investments that follow a plan and community engagement.
Youth will have a voice in shaping and implementing the Cradle to Career
agenda through the Multnomah Youth Commission’s representation on
the Cradle to Career Council and through other avenues that invite youth
engagement in decisions and actions.
The Cradle to Career strategic priorities are:
Eliminate disparities in children and youth success.
Link community and family supports to children and youth success.
Ensure that every child enters school ready to learn.
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April 2012 | www.pdxplan.com