San Diego adopts first Citywide Child and Youth Plan, with $300,000 set aside for first year

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved the city’s first Child and Youth Plan on July 23, adopting a two‑year roadmap officials said was built on more than a year of community outreach.

Councilmembers praised the Office of Child and Youth Success (OCYS) for centering youth and community input in the plan that staff said incorporated 100 community town‑hall attendees, 33 youth focus groups capturing 300+ youth voices, and steering‑committee participation from more than 85 organizations. "Today we will be reviewing the first ever Child and Youth Plan," said Andrea O'Hara, executive director of OCYS, who called the plan a roadmap to create "innovative and sustainable solutions to ensure accountability, equity and a shared framework" with schools, city departments and community partners.

The plan is organized into five focus areas: education and career pathways; economic and workforce development; youth empowerment; engaging activities; and childcare and early learning. OCYS told the council the office will track baseline metrics, report progress through an online dashboard managed by OCYS interns, and continue grant seeking and partnerships to implement the recommended action strategies. "In the upcoming fiscal year, our office has set aside $300,000 to address the focus area objectives," O'Hara said.

Community speakers who testified before the vote largely supported the plan. Melinda Cooper, program director at literacy nonprofit Words Alive, urged the council to prioritize literacy and to address disparities that show third‑grade reading gaps across the city. Public health presenters asked that the plan emphasize substance‑use prevention and youth mental‑health supports. Several youth and interns who worked on the plan described the process as empowering and urged a focus on implementation.

Council members commended the outreach and moved quickly to adopt the staff recommendation. Councilmember Campbell, who made the motion, said the plan "serves as a roadmap and resource that will empower the voices of children, youth, and their parents in our community." Campillo seconded, and the council approved the plan unanimously.

The council and OCYS leaders emphasized next steps are implementation‑focused: identifying partners for pilot programs, pursuing grant funding, tracking outcomes, and ensuring other city departments integrate child and youth priorities into their plans. OCYS staff told the council they will return with ongoing reporting and welcomed members’ support in holding departments accountable to the plan’s goals.

The council adjourned the item after the vote; implementation timing and program details will be reflected in future staff reports and OCYS’s online dashboard.