Our History
In the late 1990s, the Agenda for Children was launched in Cambridge, Massachusetts, under the auspices of the Kids' Council, a policy advisory committee comprised of city officials, human service providers, parents, academic advisors, and community foundations. To determine what residents believed were the most important issues facing Cambridge children, some 643 community members participated in over 50 meetings. What emerged from these meetings were four Universal Strategies and nine Priority Goals for improving the lives of the city's young citizens.
Universal Strategies
Priority Goals
The City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Health Alliance and the Cambridge Community Foundation decided to invest resources in two of these goals, #1 and #6, while acknowledging that work must continue on the remaining seven.
A Blue Ribbon Taskforce was formed for each goal and was charged with developing action plans to achieve these goals. A steering committee was formed to oversee the implementation of these plans, and in 2001 the City hired an Out-of-School Time Initiative Coordinator, anchored at the Department of Human Services, and a Literacy Initiative Coordinator, anchored at the Department of Public Health. In 2003, with significant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Education, the Out-of-School Time Initiative was able to hire another coordinator, anchored in the Public School Department.
The level of sustained collaboration involved in carrying out the Agenda for Children is unprecedented in Cambridge. Leadership for the Agenda has been unwavering among the City's Health, Human Services, Police, Library, and School departments, together with non-profit providers and the Cambridge Community Foundation. Representatives from each entity comprise the Agenda for Children Steering Committee. With this commitment, the City is making a significant difference in the lives of Cambridge children and families.
Universal Strategies
- Continuous community engagement is essential throughout the process.
- City institutions need to be more supportive of cultural and linguistic diversity.
- City institutions need to be more supportive and responsive to families.
- Available services need to be coordinated and publicized in such a way that families can access them more easily.
Priority Goals
- Children and youth need access to out-of-school time activities in nurturing and safe environments at all times.
- Children need comprehensive health care, which addresses physical and emotional well-being.
- Families need to be informed and supported to advocate for their children.
- Children and youth need adequate housing and an economically secure environment.
- Young children need supports to be physically, mentally and socially ready when they first enter school.
- Children and their families will be able to read.
- Children need to be physically fit, physically active, and eating well.
- Children and youth need to be free from alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
- Children need to be safe from violence in their homes, schools, and community.
The City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Health Alliance and the Cambridge Community Foundation decided to invest resources in two of these goals, #1 and #6, while acknowledging that work must continue on the remaining seven.
A Blue Ribbon Taskforce was formed for each goal and was charged with developing action plans to achieve these goals. A steering committee was formed to oversee the implementation of these plans, and in 2001 the City hired an Out-of-School Time Initiative Coordinator, anchored at the Department of Human Services, and a Literacy Initiative Coordinator, anchored at the Department of Public Health. In 2003, with significant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Education, the Out-of-School Time Initiative was able to hire another coordinator, anchored in the Public School Department.
The level of sustained collaboration involved in carrying out the Agenda for Children is unprecedented in Cambridge. Leadership for the Agenda has been unwavering among the City's Health, Human Services, Police, Library, and School departments, together with non-profit providers and the Cambridge Community Foundation. Representatives from each entity comprise the Agenda for Children Steering Committee. With this commitment, the City is making a significant difference in the lives of Cambridge children and families.
