MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

The Honorable Christopher K. Peace, Virginia House of Delegates
It is my pleasure as Chair of the General Assembly’s Commission on Youth to welcome you to our website. The Commission on Youth is tasked with providing a forum for review and study of youth policies and services. Whether you are a member or staff of the General Assembly, a government official, service provider, educator, parent or caregiver, or interested member of the public, you will find this website a wonderful resource on the Commission’s work on a host of issues, from child welfare to juvenile justice, or from mental health to education.

Children matter to policymakers in Virginia. Almost 2 million young people age 0-18 live in our state. This number represents almost 25% of our state’s population. Correspondingly, a significant percentage of our state budget goes directly to services for these youth and their families. Given the size of this population and the breadth of special needs associated with young people and their families, Virginia is fortunate to have the Commission on Youth to provide guidance and leadership on youth policy issues. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with our work and to let us know whenever we can be of assistance to your child, family or community.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Commission on Youth welcomes the Honorable Barbara A. Favola to its membership.  She is one of three Senators serving on the Commission.

The Commission on Youth met on April 2, 2013 to take action on 2013 legislative study plans.  Meeting materials and minutes can be accessed under the header "Meetings."  Information about 2012 Legislative Studies is available under "Studies."  

The 5th Edition of the Collection of Evidence-based Practices for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs is now available on-line.  

First published in 2003 and - by mandate - updated biennially, the newly-released document is now  available in its entirety on the Legislative Information System as HOUSE DOCUMENT 7 (2013).  In addition, readers can access individual sections of the Collection through the "On Our Website" menu to the left.  Here, under the Collection's Table of Contents are links to all sections and, within each section, there are web links to citations and resources.  

Web readers are able to use the SEARCH feature to locate all documents related to a particular mental health disorder on the Commission's website.

Organizations needing copies in quantity may contact the Commission at coymail@vcoy.virginia.gov. The Commission welcomes feedback and suggestions at any time.

The Collection summarizes current research on mental health treatments shown to be effective for youth.  It is designed, by mandate, for widespread dissemination as a readily-available web document. Compiled with the assistance of Virginia mental health and other professionals who work with youth, it serves a broad readership: educators, service providers, parents, caregivers and others seeking information on mental health treatments for youth. 

The Advisory Group for the Collection will meet on Tuesday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m. in the General Assembly Building, Richmond to begin discussion of the 6th Edition.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Commission on Youth Chair Christopher Peace discussed "Quality Schools Start with Good Teachers, Leaders" in the Sunday, December 9, 2012 Richmond Times Dispatch COMMENTARY section.  This op-ed piece expounded on findings from the Commission's two-year study Comparison of Academic Achievement in Virginia with Leading Industrialized Countries.  Further information on this study, which concluded in December 2012, is available on this website under MEETINGS, STUDIES, and REPORTS. The final study report will be published in spring 2013.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/their-opinion/quality-systems-start-with-good-teachers/article_582b1a82-a9d8-59b5-ac11-174bb1606300.html

On January 4, 2013, in an interview aired on Blue Ridge PBS-TV News, Delegate Peace and the Commission's Executive Director Amy Atkinson talked with journalist David Bailey about the Commission's mandate and 2012 legislative studies.  "This Week in Richmond" is an on-going series of interviews and informational programming from the Virginia Capitol.

http://www.blueridgepbs.org/index.php/videos/local-productions/this-week-in-richmond/this-week-in-Richmond-video-archives