CHICAGO - As in the rest of the U.S., the teen employment rate in Illinois dropped to 27 percent in 2012, reversing progress made over the past decade. According to research prepared for the Alternative Schools Network, black teenagers are faring worse, with only 12 percent finding jobs.

Despite the bleak numbers, the network's executive director in Chicago, Jack Wuest, said state leaders are making it clear that they support programs that employ young people.

"The governor and the Legislature last year allocated nearly $30 million for summer youth employment, and we're hoping that can be increased," he stated. "And so they're stepping up and replacing funds that were lost in the federal government."

The 2011 federal Recovery Act funds were made available for summer employment, but Wuest said there is limited additional funding to deal with the shortfall of youth jobs. The report recommends that local and state leaders pursue legislation that will provide the additional funds needed to create summer and year-round employment opportunities for teens and young adults across Illinois.

According to the report, the prolonged and substantial loss of work experience and work exposure not only affects the economy, but also has long-term societal impact. Wuest pointed out that young adults can learn critical life skills and information on the job.

Those include "showing up on time, learning to follow instructions, doing some creative kinds of work," he said. "This kind of activity that young people do when they're holding a job teaches them skills that without which they're going to be much more difficult for them to find jobs as an adult."

At the national level, the report recommends the Pathways Back to Work Act be revived. It would create funding for employment opportunities for low-income youth, a competitive grant program for work-based training and education programs, and subsidized employment programs for unemployed, low-income adults.

The report, "The Persistent Depression in the Teen Labor Market in Illinois in Recent Years," is available online at tinyurl.com/mzfbjk3.




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Indiana's youth are facing a growing mental health crisis, and officials say urgent action is needed. Nearly half of high school students in the state report experiencing depression, and suicide attempts among youth continue to increase.

Tami Silverman, president and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute highlights the struggles teens face in silence, as well as the challenges families encounter in accessing the necessary support and resources.

"Nearly half - 47% - of the students reported experiencing depression within the last year. And so, that's been pretty consistent over the past couple years, but still that's a tremendous number," she said.

In 2023, nearly one in four students planned suicide, and more than 15% attempted it. Female and LGBTQ+ students report higher rates of mental health challenges compared to their peers, reflecting significant disparities.

Barriers to accessing care worsen the situation, with two-thirds of Indiana youth who experience major depression not receiving treatment. The shortage of mental health providers across the state further limits access. Silverman called on schools and community organizations to play a pivotal role by training staff to identify mental health issues early and implementing peer mentorship programs.

"For young people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression recognizing and embracing those glimmers - those positive moments - can help provide even brief respite from some of their stress or anxiety," she continued.

Silverman also emphasized the importance of promoting mental health literacy to reduce stigma and improve access to care. By addressing challenges, Indiana can create an environment where all youth receive the support they need to thrive," she said.


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A national voting rights group supports a push to lower the voting age in California and other states to 16 for state and local elections.

The Vote16 USA campaign, is sponsored by Generation Citizen, a movement to get young voters involved in the political system and change their world for the better.

LaJuan Allen, Vote16 USA director for the group, said research showed the earlier students get involved, the more likely they will be lifetime voters.

"The earlier we start, the more likely we are to develop lifelong voters in folks that are civically engaged," Allen pointed out. "The data backs this up. The studies back this up. If you vote in one election, you're much more likely to vote in another. And if we start that early, that percentage goes up."

Allen noted California already has an early preregistration system and this November, Alameda County will allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections in Oakland and Berkley. Other states with youth voter programs include New Jersey, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Maryland.

A study by the YouthTruth Civic Empowerment Project found high school age students want to be politically involved but lack the necessary civics skills. Allen stressed the Vote16 USA project has found large numbers of youths are already involved is social movements with an eye toward improving their future.

"Young people are leading a lot of the movements that we see across our country today," Allen observed. "We think about climate justice reform. We think about education policy. We think about common sense gun violence prevention. It is young people that are at the forefront of these issues."

The last time the voting age was changed was a half-century ago when the 26th Amendment was ratified in 1971, lowering the national age from 21 to 18. Allen added they are pushing individual states and cities to make the change rather than trying to amend the Constitution.


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A new report offers some solutions for at least 119,000 young people in Connecticut who are described as being "disconnected" from work or school.

"Disconnection" means they have either dropped out or are close to dropping out of school. It also applies to young people ages 18-26 who are unemployed or unemployable.

Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said the state making college a priority beyond high school may be a worthy goal but it has also contributed to the disconnection issue.

"We've heavily invested in college as a solid vehicle for post-high-school endeavors," Dias observed. "I think one of the spaces that we need to continue to evolve is the idea that there's a lot of opportunities post-high school."

She added building up opportunities for students to see other pathways will help, including apprenticeships and alternatives to college. The overall goal of the "Young People First" plan is to get 60,000 at-risk and disconnected youth, ages 14-26, back on track by 2035.

The report, from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, said having so many disconnected young residents costs the state about $750 million annually. It estimated implementing the entire plan would cost between $600 million and $700 million, combining some new spending with leveraging existing resources. Dias acknowledged doing big things requires big "asks."

"We're going to need to look at our state-level leaders and ask them to make an investment," Dias explained. "Connecticut has resources. There are monies on the table, and we have to remember government exists for the sole purpose of supporting community, and this would be a fundamental opportunity to do that."

Dias pointed out teachers would play a big part in the plan, since they can shape curriculum and how students are prepared for life after high school. Along with building networks with different professionals, she argued it is important for young people to see there are different versions of success.

"Part of our responsibility as educators is to ensure we understand the world we're bringing these students into," Dias asserted. "If we need to learn more, that we do so. And I think, by and large, educators tend to embrace; I mean, we are learners at heart, so we tend to embrace the opportunities to learn more and do more with our students."


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