Young men of color have been disadvantaged by social and economic conditions as well as by public policy. The report summarizes research on the question: "What must we do now so that young men of color may have life?" Recommendations are presented in the areas of health, education, family support and child welfare, workforce and economic development, juvenile and criminal justice, and media.
- School-based health care and culturally competent doctors are among the promising ideas for improving health outcomes.
- Schools can act locally to curb minority dropout rates by cultivating positive peer pressure and limiting their use of zero tolerance policies.
- While the U.S. child welfare system is dominated by a government-centered child protection focus, a family or community-centered model may better meet the needs of children of color.
- Businesses should engage in innovative workforce development, which gives youth part-time jobs as well as comprehensive support.
- Minorities make up 23 percent of the population aged 10-17, but 52 percent of the incarcerated in this age group.
- Media contribute to the misunderstanding of minority youth, which leads to harmful policies.
Published by
- Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies - Health Policy Institute