Williamson Announces U.S. Department of Children and Youth PlanBy: Marianne 2020 As one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations that has ever existed, the United States should be at the top of all metrics for how we treat our children. Sadly, we are not. We have not invested in our children at the same levels other countries do. "If one person neglects a child, we consider their behavior unethical at best and criminal at worst. Then what should we consider the behavior of an entire nation that simply normalizes the despair of millions of our children? In my administration, we will address needed healing for America's chronically traumatized children with a cabinet-level United States Department of Children and Youth," said Williamson. Millions of American children attend schools with classrooms that don't even have adequate school supplies, and with children not learning to read at proficient levels. If a child cannot read by the age of eight, the chances of high school graduation are drastically decreased. Without a high school diploma, the chances of incarceration are drastically increased. Many of these children experience a form of PTSD from living in "domestic war zones," violent homes and communities which psychologists tell us is no less severe than the PTSD of a veteran returning from Afghanistan or Iraq. "One of the pillars of my campaign for the presidency is a commitment to see every child in America -- regardless of their zip code -- attend schools that are, as I have called them, palaces of learning, culture and the arts. Such schools do exist in America. Our problem now is that there are not enough of them," said Williamson. Even in the most advantaged schools, children's needs often go unmet. Most Americans probably don't appreciate the level of chronic trauma experienced by our children today - but the chronic trauma goes unaddressed for children of every kind of community. Violence, stress from family situations, academic and economic pressure all contribute to the daily issues children face. Millions of children lack consistent access to sufficient and nutritious food, millions lack health care, and millions go to schools lacking the school supplies needed to teach a child to read. "The chronic trauma of millions of American children should be seen as a humanitarian crisis for them, and a moral crisis for our country. We should rescue them no differently than we would from any other disaster. That is why, as president, I will establish a cabinet-level U.S. Department of Children and Youth," said Williamson. "From wrap-around services to anti-trauma programs, restorative justice to conflict resolution, medical and nutritional needs to anti-bullying, social work and drug treatment programs, we need full coordination of all necessary efforts to address a huge swath of despair among our most vulnerable population." Because these children are not old enough to vote, they do not represent a constituency. And because they're not old enough to work, they have no financial leverage and therefore cannot compete with the clout of corporate forces whose financial influence dominates the workings of our Congress. "A small child can't feed, clothe, or educate herself. Children cannot vote against special interests that profit financially from activities that harm their health, deny them education, or profit off their problems," says Williamson. "Advocacy for our children isn't a charity issue; it's a justice issue." This new department will implement integrated and systemic "wrap-around services" that focus on providing a whole-systems approach through intensive family and community-based programs focused on addressing and improving factors that impact ALL children living in the U.S. Some of the roles tasked to the department include:
Read the entire plan here: U.S. Department of Children and Youth - The Whole Child Plan End
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