Youth commissioners

Matthew L. Patterson of George Washington Carver High School, Amber R.

Springer of Arlington Christian Academy, Angela Andrews of Frederick Douglass

High School, and Sierra L. Scott of North Springs High School attended

the Fulton County Board of Commissioners meeting Feb. 20 to present an

overview of key issues as part of the 2002 Youth Agenda.

The countywide,

12-member Youth Commission polled peers and conducted focus groups to

arrive at the following issues and solutions for the board to consider:

Education

and employment. The group recommended creating and funding more job opportunities

for youths under 16 and mandating driver education courses for all high

school students in Fulton County.

Health. Fulton's

youth want the county to provide more in-depth educational services to

youth on the dangers of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes and mandate free

health insurance coverage for all children of families who cannot afford

it, and who are working or actively seeking employment.

Violence and

safety. The Youth Commission recommends expanding school security guard

hours to include after-school hours from 3:30-7 p.m. and providing more

undercover police in high crime areas to reduce criminal behavior.

Homelessness

and housing. Commission members believe the county should establish and

build more shelters for the homeless and fund nonprofit organizations

within each community to serve the homeless population. The county should

also repair streets and sidewalks with special attention given to areas

where a large population of children exists, the commission recommended.