disconnected youth

MaryW commented on the word disconnected youth

Young adults hold immense potential as they transition from adolescence and dependence to adulthood and self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, young African Americans also struggle under the lack of economic opportunities. Disconnected youth are teenagers and young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who lack a connection to either the education system or labor force. The rate of disconnected youth is highest among African-American youth at 21.6 percent. In nine metro areas, at least 25 percent of Black youth are disconnected from school and work. Disconnected youth not only face their own economic difficulties, but also pose an economic cost to taxpayers, with one estimate as high as $1.56 trillion for the lifetime of disconnected youth. It is worth noting that it is cheaper to prevent disconnection in the first place through quality preschool and K-12 education.

Congressional Black Caucus, We Have a Lot to Lose: Solutions to Advance Black Families bin the 21st Century (March 2017), pp. 42-43

March 25, 2017