Arlington launches cross-agency plan to improve child and youth well-being, will hire teens to help lead outreach

Arlington County departments presented a new cross-agency Children and Youth Well‑Being Plan May 13 designed to coordinate services across schools, parks, libraries and human services and engage young people directly in planning.

Assistant Director Candace Lopez of the Department of Human Services told the board the plan will use an eight-dimensions well-being framework and define a single, countywide vision for youth well-being. "The goal of the children youth well-being plan is really to engage with the Arlington community in the creation of a unified vision for Arlington Youth Well-being and a plan to get us there," Lopez said.

Staff said the plan will prioritize transitional ages, employ an "involved" engagement approach and hire teen student assistants who will be paid to work on the project, lead outreach to peers and advise the backbone staff. The planning team includes the Departments of Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Libraries, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Services and Arlington Public Schools.

A proposed timetable called for a launch this summer with data-collection and asset mapping, drafting in spring 2026, and implementation beginning in late summer or fall 2026. Staff said existing school and agency surveys, such as APS "Your Voice Matters," will be used along with new engagement to identify gaps and opportunities.

Ending: The board signaled support and urged strong school partnership and community outreach; staff asked the board to endorse beginning outreach so hiring, data work and teen hires can start this summer.