EVERY CHILD EVERY PROMISE

EVERY CHILD EVERY PROMISE. The Every Child Every Promise Initiative was established by the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE and Mississippi Valley Promise and launched in May 2007. The movement sought to engage members of the community in helping to identify what services existed, where gaps existed in service, and how the community could work together to assure every person up to the age of 20 in Dubuque County received the resources to be successful.

The City of Dubuque Human Rights Department announced in April, 2008 that it planned to add an VISTA member for the July 2008-July 2009 year to assist with Project HOPE (Helping Our People Excel), Every Child Every Promise, and the multicultural family center. (1) A community breakfast meeting was hosted on March 3, 2008 to unveil a growth chart, a means of measure the delivery of five promises to kids: presence of caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education, and opportunities to help others. These promises were identified by America's Promise, a national organization established in 1997 and headed by retired General Colin Powell. The chart demonstrated the work of months of data collection and meeting with community leaders. (2)

In September with the beginning of school the Telegraph Herald reference national/local research to show the need:

                         a. 40% of youth did not have a adult they could talk to about problems,
                         b. 24% of Dubuque County eighth graders spent six or more hours without
                            adult supervision,
                         c. 700 kids in Dubuque were on a waiting list for a mentor (3)

By October, the mayor and city council of Dubuque had made the city's youth a top priority for 2009. (4)

The Every Child growth chart gave Dubuque County a grade of "C" in graduation rates (86%). That was below the state average of 91% and was in a decline. The Telegraph Herald editorial board suggested supporting a bill to raise the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 17. (5)

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Sources:

1. "Department Seeks VISTA Volunteer," Telegraph Herald, April 30, 2008, p. 6

1. Hogstrom, Erik, "Every Child Program Opens Journey," Telegraph Herald, March 1, 2008, p. 3A

2. "TH Opinion," Telegraph Herald, September 30, 207, p. 20

3. "Letters to the Editor, " Telegraph Herald, October 8, 2007, p. 4

4. "TH Opinion," Telegraph Herald, March 24, 2008, p 4