If the Children Are Our Future, We’ve Got Work to Do

New Eckerd Report Answers Question: Who are Florida’s
Youth at Risk?

Who are the at-risk youth in Florida and how many are there? What problems do they face? What do they need to become successful adults?

Finding solutions requires good data and a clear understanding of current challenges: 230,000 Florida youth ages 16 to 24 are out of school and have not

graduated from high school. This number equals the combined high school enrollments of Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Lake, Polk, Orange, Osceola, Brevard and Indian River Counties. 51,000 of these youth are also not married and not working.

What does the future hold for them? How will they impact the future of our state?

A new report, “Spotlight on Florida’s Youth At Risk: An In-Depth Look at Their Transition to Adulthood,” commissioned by the Eckerd Family Foundation, looks at eight categories of at-risk youth and the barriers standing between them and becoming successful adults. The report will help policymakers, funders, educators, service providers, advocates and community leaders to better understand what must be done to help these young people become self-sufficient, productive, engaged members of our community.

Florida’s Future Depends On It!