An article by Wallethub highlights New Jersey as having the lowest rate of disconnected youth in the U.S. While this is encouraging, any number of disconnected youth is too high and signals that we still have much work to do to ensure all young people are prepared for successful futures.
Disconnected youth, also referred to as “idle teens” or “opportunity youth,” are individuals 16 to 24 years of age who are neither attending school nor working. From 2018 to 2022, an estimated 5% of 16- to 19-year-olds in New Jersey–approximately 24,917 individuals–were considered disconnected youth according to ACNJ’s New Jersey Kids Count Pocket Guide 2024.
Risks facing disconnected youth
Disconnected youth are more likely to fail to complete their education, exposing them to additional risks in life. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Center, some of these risks include low incomes, employment struggles, poor physical and mental health, limited skills, and an unavailability of satisfactory jobs. Ultimately, being disconnected puts a youth’s future in jeopardy.
How teens become disconnected
Teens become disconnected for a variety of reasons, influenced by both environmental factors and age. They include having few positive experiences, limited education and work opportunities, few professional networks, and social exclusion. Many disconnected youth have unstable home lives, experience trauma or violence, and come from impoverished communities with limited resources. Without the support and guidance of caring adults, young people are often left to navigate these challenges on their own, increasing their likelihood of giving up on education or employment. Additionally, some may experience homelessness, disability, or involvement in the juvenile justice or child welfare systems. High school students struggling in school may drop out, further limiting their ability to find employment due to the lack of a diploma. For those who do manage to earn a high school diploma, financial barriers and difficulties in enrolling can discourage them from pursuing higher education altogether.
How can you help?
It is important that we, as a society, do our best to prevent teens from becoming disconnected. This can be achieved by offering meaningful support to those who need it most. ACNJ’s newest initiative, positive youth development, aims to focus on the relationship with safety, wellness, and education while highlighting the strengths of the youth and their communities. Earlier this year, Governor Murphy signed the Disconnection Prevention bill to address youth disconnection in schools. More specifically, the bill:
will establish the Disconnection Prevention Task Force to analyze the
causes of school disconnection for individuals from high schools and
public institutions of higher education, and recommend best practices
for reducing disconnected youth in schools.
Loved ones and caring adults of struggling youth can help them by ensuring they feel safe and supported. Fortunately in New Jersey, there are many resources available to families and youth to support their mental health. Some of these resources include the 988 Helpline, a nationwide helpline service offering support to people experiencing emotional distress, and 2NDFLOOR, an anonymous and confidential helpline dedicated to assisting New Jersey’s youth and young adults in a variety of different areas.
To learn more about the resources mentioned above and others, click here. ACNJ’s staff attorney, Nina Peckman, is also an excellent guide for anyone who has questions on education-related issues. Visit our website to access her informative factsheets and videos as well.
In order to give all children a strong and equitable start in life, New Jersey must begin with an intentional focus on eliminating racial inequities and disparities in access to essential supports, according to a new report, 
