Iowa's Promise
About Iowa’s Promise
Iowa 's Promise has adopted the America 's Promise (http://www.americaspromise.org/) framework to communicate a common and powerful message to Iowans about the importance and value of providing children and youth with the services, opportunities, and supports they need to succeed.
The Iowa’s Promise program grew out of a 1998 Iowa Summit Initiative, which focused on youth and community service. In 2004, Iowa was officially recognized as a State of Promise. The ICVS partners with the Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development (ICYD) (http://www.icyd.org/), which provides the bulk of support for Iowa’s Promise activities. By mobilizing Iowans to fulfill the “Five Promises” — the fundamental resources that create opportunities for success in life — the ICVS and ICYD believe that we can improve the lives of young people throughout the state. These promises to young people are:
- Caring Adults —Ongoing relationships with caring adults — parents, mentors, tutors or coaches — offer youth support, care and guidance.
- Safe Places — Safe places with structured activities during nonschool hours provide both physical and emotional safety for youth.
- A Healthy Start — Adequate nutrition, exercise, and health care pave the way for healthy bodies, healthy minds, and smart habits for adulthood.
- Marketable Skills — Marketable skills through effective education help youth navigate the transition from school to work successfully.
- Opportunities to Serve — Opportunities to give back through community service enhance self-esteem, boost confidence and heighten a sense of responsibility to the community.
America’s Promise has found that young people who receive at least four of the Five Promises in their home, school, and community life are more likely than children who experience few of these Promises to achieve academic, social, and civic success.
Activities in Iowa that have supported the Iowa’s Promise initiative have included the awarding of special service grants to Iowa youth groups; the creation of the Iowa State University Extension AmeriCorps State of Promise program, which places AmeriCorps members at youth-serving organizations throughout Iowa; and the designation of local Communities of Promise in the state.
Become a Community of Promise
Communities of Promise are essential partners in the efforts to provide the Five Promises to Iowa youth and offer e a mechanism to take our commitment to children and youth to the local level. Becoming a Community of Promise is a way for your town or city to demonstrate that you have a group of local leaders who are working to coordinate Promise activities in your community.
If you would like more information about the process of becoming a Community of Promise, please contact the ICVS at icvs@iowa.gov or toll free at 1.800.308.5987.