Tonight, the President spoke of the enduring values that keep
America strong - freedom, faith, and family - and highlighted the
need to encourage communities to focus on our most-at-risk
youth.
The President is fully committed to empowering more of America's
families, schools, and faith-based and community organizations to
address some of our toughest social problems and help those most
in need. President Bush's new proposals focus on an outreach to
young, at-risk Americans to help them make healthy decisions and
to help America's youth overcome the danger of gang influence and
involvement.
Background on Presidential Action
Young Americans Are At Risk. While many trends in negative
risk-taking among youth are heading in the right direction, risky
behaviors, including illegal drug and tobacco use, violence and
early sexual activity, are still among the top causes of disease
and early death among youth. In addition, more children are
growing up in homes without a father present, and studies show
that an overwhelming number of violent criminals in the United
States are males who grew up without fathers. Research has shown
that the more children are connected to family, school, and
community, the less likely they are to engage in risky
behaviors.
Statistics show that boys are at greater risk than girls for
learning disabilities, illiteracy, dropping out of school,
substance-abuse problems, violence, juvenile arrest, and early
death caused by violent behavior. Many adolescent boys also
struggle with literacy skills and aggressive behavior. Boys
often begin to fall behind girls in elementary school, which
leads to higher dropout rates and juvenile delinquency, and
they often show signs of behavioral problems early in life. As
boys grow older, risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse
become more prevalent, and gang involvement increases.
The
Department of Justice estimates approximately 750,000
individuals are now members of gangs - one-third of which are
under the age of 18. While gang membership among girls is
becoming much more common, the overwhelming majority of gang
members are male - representing more than 90% of the gang
population in large cities. Without prevention and
intervention, these problems can be passed from generation to
generation.
The President and Mrs. Bush are Committed to Helping America's
Youth.
The President announced a new outreach effort, to be led by
Mrs. Laura Bush, to focus on young Americans, especially young
men, to help ensure a successful future. During the next year,
the President and Mrs. Bush are committed to:
Highlighting the importance of focusing on at-risk youth,
especially boys;
Educating parents and communities on the
importance of promoting positive youth development; and
Informing parents and communities of strong and successful
prevention and intervention programs that work by highlighting
the efforts of coaches, pastors, and mentors from around the
country, especially those with programs that focus on boys.
The President's focus on young Americans will include support
for programs that help youth overcome the specific risk of gang
influence and involvement.
The President proposed a three-year, $150-million initiative
to help youth at risk of gang influence and involvement.
Through grants to faith-based and community organizations
targeting youth ages 8-17, the initiative will help some of
America's communities that are most in need. These
organizations will provide a positive model for youth - one
that respects women and rejects violence.