Improving the Coordination and Effectiveness of Youth Programs

This executive order creates an Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs within HHS to coordinate federal youth programs, mandates development of a new federal youth website within 10 months, and requires annual reporting to the President. It continues the "Helping America's Youth" initiative through structured interagency collaboration without creating new legal rights or spending authority.

Federal Register Open PDF 73 FR 8003

Impact dates

Feb 6, 2010
Chair and Vice Chair initial term expires; biennial rotation thereafter
Dec 7, 2008
First phase of federal youth website launch
Aug 7, 2008
First annual report to President due

Key directives

Establish Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs under HHS Secretary
Launch first phase of federal youth website within 10 months of signing
Submit first annual report to President no later than 6 months after signing
Chair and Vice Chair serve 2-year terms with biennial rotation
Website funded by voluntary agency contributions
Encourage rigorous impact evaluations and elimination/reform of ineffective or duplicative programs

Timeline

Immediate

Working Group establishment by HHS Secretary
Secretary designated as Chair, Attorney General as Vice Chair for 2-year term

Near term (90d)

First annual report to President due no later than 6 months after signing (by August 7, 2008)

Long term

Federal youth website first phase launch within 10 months (by December 7, 2008)
Biennial Chair/Vice Chair rotations ongoing
Annual reporting continues indefinitely

Risks & tensions

No dedicated appropriations; implementation 'subject to availability of appropriations' and website relies on voluntary agency contributions (Sec. 5, 6(b))
No enforcement mechanism; EO explicitly disclaims creating enforceable rights (Sec. 6(c))
Vague standard for 'rigorous evaluation' leaves methodology undefined
Potential tension between coordination goal and agency statutory autonomy (Sec. 6(a)(i))