The Pathways assemble a wealth of findings from research, practice, theory, and policy about what it takes to improve the lives of children, youth and families, particularly those living in tough neighborhoods. By laying
out a comprehensive, coherent array of actions, the Pathway informs efforts to improve community conditions within supportive policy and funding contexts.

The Pathways framework does not promote a single formula or program. Rather, the emphasis is on acting strategically across disciplines, systems, and jurisdictions to achieve one or more of the following results:

• More children ready for school and succeeding at third grade
• More young people who make a successful transition to young adulthood
• Fewer children abused or neglected

The Pathways provide a starting point to guide choices made by community coalitions, services providers, researchers, funders, and policymakers to achieve desired outcomes for children, youth, and families.  They lay out the actions that contribute to achieving the outcomes, along with examples, research-based rationale and evidence, ingredients of effectiveness, and indicators of progress.  They offer guidance to communities which, in combination with local wisdom, provides a structure for planning and acting strategically.

Read about the current status of the Pathways

The Pathways are available in PDF format by clicking on the titles below:

For a message about the background of the Pathways and other work from Lisbeth B. Schorr, founder of the Pathways Mapping Initiative, click here.  [Unlike the four items above, this will be a link to another site.]