The April 1997 Presidents' Summit for America's Future provided a national call to action. As a result, many communities across the country are now mobilizing to fulfill these Five Promises for children and youth:

1. Ongoing Relationships With Caring Adults - Communities need to provide all young people with sustained adult relationships which they experience support, care, guidance, and advocacy.
2. Safe Places and Structured Activities - Children and youth need structured, enriching ways to spend their time, and they need to be emotionally and physically safe.
3. A Healthy Start For A Healthy Future - Children and youth need access to services and opportunities-from economic security to good health care to ongoing health education-that ensure that they stay healthy.
4. Marketable Skills Through Effective Education - For young people to thrive in a changing global economy, they must have skills in reading, math, science, etc., as well as job-specific skills.
5. Opportunities To Serve - Young people need opportunities to contribute to their communities, a powerful component of growth and an important strategy in shaping America's future.

These Five Promises contain the seeds for a national movement capable of advancing the health and well-being of the next generation. But, we all must take responsibility and get involved to make this a reality.