Overview of the Mayor’s Transitional Youth Task Force

Marlo Simmons is currently the Adolescent Health Coordinator at the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families and the Department of Public Health in San Francisco, California, and serves as primary staff to the San Francisco Transitional Youth Task Force.

With support from family, school and other resources in their communities, most young people make a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. Unfortunately, too many young people, usually those lacking social and societal supports, are unable to finish school, maintain employment or stable housing or access needed health care.

Mayor Newsom, in partnership with the San Francisco Youth Commission, established a Transitional Youth Task Force (TYTF) in March 2006. The 36 members of the Task Force represent a broad spectrum of systems, providers and CBOs, including 12 young adults age 16-24.

The Mayor charged the Task Force with developing recommendations for the City to better serve the City's most vulnerable transitional age youth, defined as young people ages 16 to 24 who are:

• transitioning out of a public system (juvenile justice, foster care, special education) and/or
• have dropped out of high school and/or
• are homeless and/or
• are disabled or have special needs and/or
• are pregnant or parenting

The task force has up to two years to accomplish the following functions:

• Gathering data to identify and better understand the needs and status of transitional aged youth.
• Evaluating available resources, existing programs, previous work of related coalitions, key research and reports, etc.
• Recommending select system-wide policy and budget changes to address structural issues and gaps in service.

In addition to producing a Resource Guide for Transitional Youth, the group anticipates concluding work on a Final Report and set of recommendations by late Spring 2007.

In August, the Task Force established three workgroups - Career Preparation, Academic Achievement and Community Services and Supports (including housing and health services).

For more information on the Mayor's Transitional Youth Task Force, please contact Marlo Simmons at 554-8421 or marlo@dcyf.org.