About Ready for Life

In late 2006, NPEF began conversations with the Education Collaborative of Washoe County regarding creating a Ready for Life collaborative in the Reno area. Simultaneously, the Washoe County Manager convened a Youth Services Development Group, composed of public and private youth-serving organizations, to discuss collaboration toward helping more at-risk young people succeed. Participating in these conversations, the Education Collaborative recognized this as the appropriate group to embrace Ready for Life. NPEF invited the Youth Services Development Group to submit an application for a planning grant to establish a Ready for Life community collaborative. In June 2007, NPEF approved a grant of $60,000 to Washoe County Juvenile Services as the fiscal agent. Their first-year plans included identifying local stakeholders, preparing a Statement of Needs brief, holding a Washoe County Community Convening, and development of a strategic plan for Ready for Life in Washoe County.

Washoe County Ready for Life (RFL) members are an inclusive collection of family members, youth, business owners, policy makers, educators, counselors, community activists, public and nonprofit service providers. We are committed to taking necessary action and providing support to the success of RFL and the potentially disconnected youth of Washoe County, so that:

• These youth have improved educational outcomes and are knowledgeable, engaged, financially independent and employable;
• Employment options are expanded for these youth, in settings that lead to new business growth and personal/professional growth of individuals;
• Community awareness and a shared responsibility to promote success of potentially disconnected youth is created; and
• A culture that has high expectations for all students and demonstrates a commitment to personal educational achievement and employment is shaped.

Over the past year we have conducted a comprehensive needs assessment  and developed a strategic plan to respond to the most critical needs of potentially disconnected youth in Washoe County. Over the next 12-18 months, Washoe County RFL seeks to achieve results in the following four areas:

• Foster youth are employed, continue education, and able to support themselves
• High school dropouts are re-engaged, obtain diploma, and connected to a career or learning path
• Teen parents complete high school, continue education, and are employed
• New business opportunities provide economic development and personal/professional growth of individuals

Results will be achieved through the work of four community-driven workgroups, which is overseen at the county level by multi-disciplinary Steering Committee, and coordinated with statewide RFL efforts through the Nevada Public Education Foundation.

Research has shown that by targeting and impacting at-risk youth, our efforts will filter across and positively impact ALL youth.  Please join with us to ensure all Washoe County youth are connected and Ready For Life. 

For more information or to get involved with
Washoe County Ready For Life, contact:
 Chris Melloway at Ready4Life@washoecounty.us 
or Leah Sherbondy at lsherbondy@nvpef.org


 

Washoe County Ready for Life – Assessment of Needs and Conditions for Washoe County’s Most Vulnerable Youth