The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) today announced the launch of the 119K Commission which seeks to aid the 20% of 14-26 year olds in the state who are at risk of not graduating high school or are already disconnected from education and employment opportunities.
The name comes from the fact 119,000 young Connecticut residents are already disconnected or at risk. “Without intervention,” the Commission’s website states, “many will become permanently dependent on the state and more susceptible to financial insecurity, substance abuse, crime, incarceration, and homelessness. “
“CCM again is compelled to act. This 119K Commission will use the work done by Dalio Education and the Boston Consulting Group, coupled with the feedback, lessons learned through our forums, as its guide to create an actionable statewide strategy that seeks to tackle this crisis,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO in a press release ahead of a formal announcement at the Capitol building.. “This is an issue that is affecting towns big and small. I’ve said that the nearly 120,000 children at-risk or disconnected should be a wake-up call for all of us. The partnerships and ideas that the Commission will seek to cultivate and flush out will help it to deliver on the promise of getting these young people back on track.”
Monthly meetings are scheduled for the next eight months, with the Commission members, primarily municipal executives across the state along with leaders of community organizations will seek public input to shape statewide strategy.
The meeting for May 29, focused on child welfare and justice system involvement will take place in Trumbull.
For more information visit: https://www.119kcommission.org/
