Youth Investments Create Community Safety

Young people in New York have made clear that their vision of community safety requires access to housing, behavioral health care, afterschool programs, year-round employment opportunities and holistic support – not further criminalization. The inclusion of language for increased programming investments and the Youth Justice Innovation Fund in both the NYS Assembly and Senate One House bills shows us that elected leaders are listening!  

This budget season, advocates across the state are calling for more investments in services that support young people and to ensure ALL counties and community-based organizations within them benefit from Raise the Age resources. 

Please take a few moments to submit our current Take Action urging state leaders to adopt a State Budget that supports families, adequately funds services, and addresses the root causes of youth justice involvement. We need your help to make sure these critical investments in youth opportunities are included in the final state budget.