Walking past the White House afterwards, then in full combat mode against Iraq, I was amazed at the lack of young people in the capital. But reality hit me on the outskirts, when I visited suburbs wracked by some of the worst youth problems in the industrialised world.
Nearly a quarter of Washington DC's young people live in extreme poverty.
Every year, 2,500 young people between 10 and 17 are arrested for violent and property crimes.
Dealing with problems like these needs big money and big imagination.
Federal funding for youth organisations stands at $623m, with a dedicated youth services block coming out of Department of Labour-related expenditure.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
