According to the latest American Community Service data, taken in 2021, there are over 570,000 young people ages 16-24 in California who are disconnected from school and work. This represents 20% increase from 2019.
In the evolving landscape of our modern economy, one of the most critical, yet often overlooked challenges we face is how to support teens and young adults (ages 16-24) who are disconnected from two of the most foundational, indispensable institutions of education and employment. Not surprisingly, the consequences of disengagement from both school and work are far-reaching, affecting not just the individual youth, but the communities in which they live, and even society as a whole.
Any meaningful attempt to answer key questions about both prevention and intervention, requires an analysis of the relevant facts. Data, when properly analyzed, provides invaluable insights that not only present a clearer picture of the situation but also guides policy and intervention design. It helps pinpoint the specifics: who is affected, when are they most vulnerable, where are the hotspots, and why these trends are emerging.
Opportunity Youth: Disconnection, Persistence & The Path To Reconnection
Key Variables Of Advanced Prediction Of Disconnection In 2024, 510,727 young Californians between the ages of 16 and 24 – 10.8% of the age…
Publications & Research
Southern Nevada’s Opportunity Youth Coalition Strategic Action Plan
Disrupting The Disconnected Youth Pipeline The Opportunity Youth Coalition (OYC) is a major systems-level effort led by Workforce Connections (WC), the Local Workforce Development…
Publications & Research
Challenges And Opportunities For Change
Addressing Youth Disconnection In The Los Angeles Region This report is supported by the Alliance for Children’s Rights, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The…
Publications & Research
Update on Teen & Young Adult Disconnection In California
Youth disconnection, a term referring to individuals ages 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor at work, is a significant concern in…
Publications & Research
Los Angeles County’s Out-of-Work & Disconnected Youth Data Report
This brief paper serves as an update to the 2020 Los Angeles County Disconnected or (Opportunity) Youth report. According to data collected through the…
Publications & Research
California’s Opportunity Youth: 2022 Data Update
The importance of engaging teens and young adults in education and employment opportunities is well documented and cannot be overstated, yet a significant number…
Publications & Research
The LA Story: Building A Workforce & Career Development System for Opportunity Youth
This report shares the story of how two local coalitions with over 100 partners aligned their collective impact initiatives, resources, and skills to create…
Publications & Research
City of Los Angeles Opportunity Youth 2021 Data Report
In 2021, the City of Los Angeles (LA) was home to approximately 3.9 million people, making it the second most populous city in the…
Tools & Templates
COYN Action Guide: Expanding Workforce & Career Development Pathways For Opportunity Youth
A roadmap to expand access to and improve the quality of workforce and career development services provided for 16- to 24-year-old opportunity youth –…
Tools & Templates
All Youth One System: Elements Of A Comprehensive, Youth-Serving System
This framework guides partners in implementing the five elements of a comprehensive, youth-serving system. In a comprehensive and connected local youth system, programs, initiatives,…
