1. Reduce youth violence
2. Reduce youth substance abuse
3. Reduce youth early sexual activity

To achieve these goals, The Youth Connection's primary focus is to increase the quality and quantity of after school programs offered to our targeted youth by coordinating with a cross-sector of leadership in each of the three cities that includes government officials, business leaders, representatives from all three school districts, parents, youth and members from the UHI fellows program.

To help achieve our goals we are working to provide after school programs attended by 50% of youth in each of the three cities. The Youth Connection is partnering with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to introduce Mayor's Time, an initiative to facilitate the expansion of after school activities within the city.

The Youth Connection is also working with the Pontiac Mayor Willie Payne and Superintendent Walter Burt to expand after school projects already underway through Project Synergy, an effort that already has developed after school programs in every elementary and middle school in Pontiac. Our partnership with the United Way of Oakland County is also targeting four housing communities located in high-risk areas in Pontiac for program expansion.

In Mt. Clemens, the Youth Connection is working to expand upon a partnership with T.C. Wallace, Superintendent of Mt. Clemens Schools and Mayor Harry Diehl to aid the A.S.A.P. (After School Activities and Programs) office that already engages hundreds of youth and helps to provide transportation to and from activities.

Additionally, The Youth Connection is coordinating efforts in Detroit to provide adult and police presence to ensure safe passage for youth traveling to and from school and after school activities. A communications campaign is underway to position youth and after school programs in a position of priority in metropolitan Detroit. The Greater Detroit Area Health Council serves as the lead agency for The Youth Connection.