Surry County Office on Youth

The mission of the Surry County Office on Youth is to enhance the quality of life for Surry County youth and families by effectively addressing youth concerns, assessing needs for services, increasing community collaboration and assistance in the establishment of effective programs for positive youth development.

The Office on Youth is advised by the Youth Services Citizen Board (YSCB) whose function is to advise the County and the Board of Supervisors regarding issues relating to youth and to provide opportunities for community involvement and input on youth concerns in Surry County.  The YSCB is comprised of one adult citizen from each of the five districts in the County and appointed by the Board of Supervisors for a four-year term and at least two youth representatives from the County's high school and middle school appointed for a one-year term.

Surry County Named One of the Nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People for a Second Year

Competition Recognizes Community’s Efforts to Reduce High School Dropout Rates

Surry County achieved national recognition as one of America’s Promise Alliance’s 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING for its initiatives to help young people. The competition recognizes communities across the country that focus on reducing high school dropout rates and providing service and support to their youth.

 Graduating 90 percent of Surry County High School’s student body, Surry County is dedicated to preparing students both inside and outside the classroom.   Since 2007, the Surry County Office on Youth’s Precious Jewels program has given more than 60 middle school girls the chance to learn social graces from mentors who have included the ladies of the Phi Chi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Similarly, the Surry Cooperative Extension Agency has the “Beyond the High School Years” program that teaches young people skills ranging from table and phone etiquette to completing job applications and writing thank you notes in an effort to prepare them for their post-academic future.  In a unanimous vote, Surry County Board of Supervisors implemented a rigorous curriculum to unite members of the county under one shared vision, allowing for a focused and nurturing environment for children. This is Surry County's second 100 Best win. 

“In a nation where 7,000 students drop out of high school every day, we hope Surry County’s initiatives inspire other communities across the nation to take action to solve the challenges facing their young people,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, America’s Promise Alliance president and CEO.  “Surry County is especially deserving of this recognition due to their efforts to ensure that their young people graduate from high school and go on to lead healthy, productive lives.  Surry County refuses to let the challenges they face determine the future for their young people.  Instead, they are helping their youth prosper and become contributing members of society.”     Surry County Administrator, Tyrone Franklin said, “this recognition is a testament to the dedication and commitment that Surry County staff, school system, and citizens have for their continued investment in our most precious resource – Our Youth”.

 For a link to America's Promise Alliance website and the 2011 Surry County narrative, click here.

About America’s Promise Alliance
America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest partnership organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth by raising awareness, supporting communities, and engaging in nonpartisan advocacy. Through our Grad Nation campaign, we harness the collective power of our partner network to mobilize Americans to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21^st century workforce.  Building on the legacy of our Founding Chairman General Colin Powell, the Alliance believes the success of our young people is grounded in the Five Promises—caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others.  For more information about America’s Promise Alliance, visit www.americaspromise.org.

In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves nearly 30 million customers across the nation.

ING’s diversity management philosophy and commitment to workplace diversity, diversity marketing, corporate citizenship and supplier diversity fosters an inclusive environment for employees that supports a distinctive product and service experience for the financial services consumer. For more information, visit www.ing.com/us.

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Surry County was named one of the nation’s “100 Best Communities for Young People” by America’s Promise Alliance and ING, a Global financial services company for 2010.

The “100 Best”  designation recognizes those communities that make youth a priority by implementing programs that help keep children in school and prepare them for college and the 21^st century workforce. The competition is open to all communities that make children and youth a priority, including small towns, large cities, counties and school districts. In addition to enhancing local educational opportunities, most winning communities have taken steps to facilitate improved access to health care for its young people, encourage youth civic engagement and supply developmental resources that create better places for young people to live and grow.

“Through its innovative and far-reaching programs, Surry County is taking bold and effective steps to help their young people graduate and lead healthy, productive lives,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, America’s Promise Alliance president and CEO. “Surry County serves as an example to inspire and educate other communities across the nation to tackle the challenges facing their city and children, and to implement initiatives that give them the essential resources they need to succeed in life.”

For a link to America's Promise Alliance website and the 2010 Surry County narrative, click here.