Lakewood (Ohio) - Lakewood Youth Commission

YOUTH MASTER PLAN PROCESS

The Planning Process

A strong community is one that helps young people overcome problems and build resilience and life skills, while discovering the value of community involvement.

The city of Lakewood has long demonstrated its commitment to supporting youth and families. The Department of Human Services provides cradle-to-grave programs that support the health and well-being of all residents. These programs involve strong community collaborations. Among these are the Lakewood Family Room – a family support program for parents raising young children – and H20 (Help to Others) – a civic volunteer program for middle and high school students provided in partnership with Lakewood Public Schools, local businesses and organizations.

In 2005, the City of Lakewood applied and received a grant from the National League of Cities to receive technical assistance for a Youth Master Plan (YMP). The YMP is a community-wide program that brings together a broad base of stakeholders including youth, parents, city, school and other civic leaders to develop a long-term strategic plan for youth and families. It is meant to be a road map that will serve as a guide for decision-making and resource allocation today and in the years to come.

Demographic Description of Lakewood

As a first-tier suburb, Lakewood experiences a unique set of assets and challenges. An environmental scan provides a snapshot of the needs and opportunities that exist for Lakewood youth. Environmental Scan report.

Between 1996 and 2001, 21.5% of all births in Lakewood were to unmarried women. During the same time period, 13% of all births in Lakewood experienced inadequate prenatal care, 5% of all births were low-weight and the infant death rate increased slightly. The average school enrollment for Lakewood (92%) was slightly above the County average (90%). Lakewood’s graduation rate increased by 2.6% from 2002 to 2005.

In 2005, almost one-third of Lakewood students were eligible to receive free or reduced lunch prices, nearly 10% more than in 1999. The Ohio Department of Education reports that the percentage of students who are eligible for free and reduced lunches has increased across the board.

The demographic and social indicators provided a better understanding of issues facing Lakewood youth and formalized the need for a Youth Master Plan.

National League of Cities - Technical Assistance

The city of Lakewood has a long-standing relationship with the National League of Cities. In 2005, Lakewood was one of six municipalities selected by the NLC to receive technical assistance through the MetLife Foundation City/Schools Youth Planning Initiative to conduct a youth planning process.

A strong city/school partnership is essential to the YMP process. Lakewood’s history of city/school collaborations is just one reason it was chosen to participate in this project. Mayor George and Superintendent Estrop established the Lakewood Cares Coalition in 2005 to strengthen the coordination of services that support the healthy development and future success of our children, and provided a foundation for the YMP process.

The NLC technical assistance provided an invaluable catalyst for starting the strategic plan for youth development in Lakewood. It offered unique opportunities to learn effective strategies from national experts on youth planning, to share knowledge and ideas with peers in other cities, and to receive in-depth assistance from the NLC staff.

In July 2006, Leon Andrews, Program Developer for the NLC Institute of Youth, visited Lakewood to address community leaders about the importance of youth master planning and to share valuable insight on the development of the YMP. He cited specific examples of cities that have been transformed through the development and adherence to a YMP. When a city invests in its youth, it attracts both families and businesses. YMPs improve outcomes for youth, and improve economic development.

Planning Process Participants

To be truly successful, the YMP must incorporate a cross-section of interests and perspectives. In early 2006, a Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) was formed, comprised of Lakewood Cares Coalition leadership, City Council, youth leadership and civic volunteers. The BRTF is supported by an Executive Committee (EC) and Chairperson to expedite decision-making and move the entire process along. The EC conducted several major meetings to introduce the process to the greater community.

These gatherings also allowed the BRTF to gain valuable insight into participants’ perceptions of issues facing youth and families in Lakewood. Community assessment was also supported through a partnership with the University of Akron, both early in the process with data collection, and later assistance with the youth survey.

During a retreat in 2006, the BRTF established a vision and mission, and identified four strategic focus areas. The mission of the YMP is to develop a "plan to effectively foster successful and well-adjusted youth and families," with the common vision that "all youth and families belong and thrive." The four strategic focus areas are Health and Safety, Families, Education and Recreation.

Four subcommittees called Community Action Teams (CAT) were formed — from individuals invited by members of the BRTF as well as residents who participated in gatherings — to introduce the YMP to the broader community. Each of the CATs convened around one of the four focus areas to assess needs and resources, prioritize issues and make recommendations for the final YMP. (A full list of BRTF, Executive Committee and CAT members can be found in the Youth Master Plan Appendices.)

Partnership with The Center for Community Solutions

The initial phase of the YMP laid the groundwork for the future planning process. The planning process lost momentum. The Executive Committee determined there was a need for full-time facilitators.

As part of the BRTF’s long-term commitment to the YMP, the Executive Committee sought expertise in community processing at the local level. The EC obtained a grant from the George Gund Foundation to fund a new partnership with The Center for Community Solutions. Community Solutions has a 93-year history of working with communities and systems in encouraging young people and their families to make healthy choices, and in developing opportunities to help them be successful. Executive Director and President Gregory Brown and Youth Development Team Leader Elaine Sutton, Ph.D. joined the planning team, bringing with them a wealth of experience and knowledge. Their evidence-based strategic planning process was combined with the YMP's existing CAT team structure. Appropriate indicators were explored and shared with the CATs to help complete the final phase of the development process.

Youth Survey

Youth are the foremost experts on their experiences. Understanding young people’s needs from their own perspective is paramount to developing an effective youth plan. In March and April 2007, Community Chair, Chris Karel with assistance from Adam Eltrich, intern from the University of Akron, and Jessica Saunders, Recreation Department representative, conducted an extensive survey of Lakewood youth. The results provided critical information about how they’re doing in school, how they spend their time, how sufficiently active they are, how safe they feel, and much more. The survey was distributed to just over 800 middle school and high school students in Lakewood.

The most popular hobby for both middle school and high school students was organized athletics (30%). A very strong majority of both middle school and high school students hang out either at a friend’s house or at their own home. Almost 40% of middle school students and nearly 50% of high school students leave Lakewood over six times a month for recreation and entertainment. Middle school students had more personal safety concerns than high school students. (A complete summary of the youth survey can be found in the Lakewood Youth Master Plan Appendices.)

The process described above, combined with widespread input from the community, provided the framework for the strategic development of the Plan.


Lakewood, Ohio
Home About Us Documents & Forms Especially For Youth News & Current Events Community Resources Youth Master Plan Process: -Education -Families -Health & Safety -Recreation Contact US	YOUTH MASTER PLAN PROCESS The Planning Process A strong community is one that helps young people overcome problems and build resilience and life skills, while discovering the value of community involvement. The city of Lakewood has long demonstrated its commitment to supporting youth and families. The Department of Human Services provides cradle-to-grave programs that support the health and well-being of all residents. These programs involve strong community collaborations. Among these are the Lakewood Family Room – a family support program for parents raising young children – and H20 (Help to Others) – a civic volunteer program for middle and high school students provided in partnership with Lakewood Public Schools, local businesses and organizations. In 2005, the City of Lakewood applied and received a grant from the National League of Cities to receive technical assistance for a Youth Master Plan (YMP). The YMP is a community-wide program that brings together a broad base of stakeholders including youth, parents, city, school and other civic leaders to develop a long-term strategic plan for youth and families. It is meant to be a road map that will serve as a guide for decision-making and resource allocation today and in the years to come. Demographic Description of Lakewood As a first-tier suburb, Lakewood experiences a unique set of assets and challenges. An environmental scan provides a snapshot of the needs and opportunities that exist for Lakewood youth. Environmental Scan report. Between 1996 and 2001, 21.5% of all births in Lakewood were to unmarried women. During the same time period, 13% of all births in Lakewood experienced inadequate prenatal care, 5% of all births were low-weight and the infant death rate increased slightly. The average school enrollment for Lakewood (92%) was slightly above the County average (90%). Lakewood’s graduation rate increased by 2.6% from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, almost one-third of Lakewood students were eligible to receive free or reduced lunch prices, nearly 10% more than in 1999. The Ohio Department of Education reports that the percentage of students who are eligible for free and reduced lunches has increased across the board. The demographic and social indicators provided a better understanding of issues facing Lakewood youth and formalized the need for a Youth Master Plan. National League of Cities - Technical Assistance The city of Lakewood has a long-standing relationship with the National League of Cities. In 2005, Lakewood was one of six municipalities selected by the NLC to receive technical assistance through the MetLife Foundation City/Schools Youth Planning Initiative to conduct a youth planning process. A strong city/school partnership is essential to the YMP process. Lakewood’s history of city/school collaborations is just one reason it was chosen to participate in this project. Mayor George and Superintendent Estrop established the Lakewood Cares Coalition in 2005 to strengthen the coordination of services that support the healthy development and future success of our children, and provided a foundation for the YMP process. The NLC technical assistance provided an invaluable catalyst for starting the strategic plan for youth development in Lakewood. It offered unique opportunities to learn effective strategies from national experts on youth planning, to share knowledge and ideas with peers in other cities, and to receive in-depth assistance from the NLC staff. In July 2006, Leon Andrews, Program Developer for the NLC Institute of Youth, visited Lakewood to address community leaders about the importance of youth master planning and to share valuable insight on the development of the YMP. He cited specific examples of cities that have been transformed through the development and adherence to a YMP. When a city invests in its youth, it attracts both families and businesses. YMPs improve outcomes for youth, and improve economic development. Planning Process Participants To be truly successful, the YMP must incorporate a cross-section of interests and perspectives. In early 2006, a Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) was formed, comprised of Lakewood Cares Coalition leadership, City Council, youth leadership and civic volunteers. The BRTF is supported by an Executive Committee (EC) and Chairperson to expedite decision-making and move the entire process along. The EC conducted several major meetings to introduce the process to the greater community. These gatherings also allowed the BRTF to gain valuable insight into participants’ perceptions of issues facing youth and families in Lakewood. Community assessment was also supported through a partnership with the University of Akron, both early in the process with data collection, and later assistance with the youth survey. During a retreat in 2006, the BRTF established a vision and mission, and identified four strategic focus areas. The mission of the YMP is to develop a "plan to effectively foster successful and well-adjusted youth and families," with the common vision that "all youth and families belong and thrive." The four strategic focus areas are Health and Safety, Families, Education and Recreation. Four subcommittees called Community Action Teams (CAT) were formed — from individuals invited by members of the BRTF as well as residents who participated in gatherings — to introduce the YMP to the broader community. Each of the CATs convened around one of the four focus areas to assess needs and resources, prioritize issues and make recommendations for the final YMP. (A full list of BRTF, Executive Committee and CAT members can be found in the Youth Master Plan Appendices.) Partnership with The Center for Community Solutions The initial phase of the YMP laid the groundwork for the future planning process. The planning process lost momentum. The Executive Committee determined there was a need for full-time facilitators. As part of the BRTF’s long-term commitment to the YMP, the Executive Committee sought expertise in community processing at the local level. The EC obtained a grant from the George Gund Foundation to fund a new partnership with The Center for Community Solutions. Community Solutions has a 93-year history of working with communities and systems in encouraging young people and their families to make healthy choices, and in developing opportunities to help them be successful. Executive Director and President Gregory Brown and Youth Development Team Leader Elaine Sutton, Ph.D. joined the planning team, bringing with them a wealth of experience and knowledge. Their evidence-based strategic planning process was combined with the YMP's existing CAT team structure. Appropriate indicators were explored and shared with the CATs to help complete the final phase of the development process. Youth Survey Youth are the foremost experts on their experiences. Understanding young people’s needs from their own perspective is paramount to developing an effective youth plan. In March and April 2007, Community Chair, Chris Karel with assistance from Adam Eltrich, intern from the University of Akron, and Jessica Saunders, Recreation Department representative, conducted an extensive survey of Lakewood youth. The results provided critical information about how they’re doing in school, how they spend their time, how sufficiently active they are, how safe they feel, and much more. The survey was distributed to just over 800 middle school and high school students in Lakewood. The most popular hobby for both middle school and high school students was organized athletics (30%). A very strong majority of both middle school and high school students hang out either at a friend’s house or at their own home. Almost 40% of middle school students and nearly 50% of high school students leave Lakewood over six times a month for recreation and entertainment. Middle school students had more personal safety concerns than high school students. (A complete summary of the youth survey can be found in the Lakewood Youth Master Plan Appendices.) The process described above, combined with widespread input from the community, provided the framework for the strategic development of the Plan.