White House Conference On Children and Youth - Topics

Topics

• 1909 - Entitled the "White House Conference on the Care of Dependent Children," the theme was opposition to the institutionalization of dependent and neglected children.
• 1919 - The "White House Conference on Standards of Child Welfare" created the most comprehensive report on the needs of children ever written.
• 1929 - The most comprehensive report on the needs of children ever written was created at the "Conference on the Standards of Child Welfare."
• 1939 - The "Conference on Children in a Democracy" highlighted the democratic values, services, and environment necessary for the welfare of children.
• 1950 - Healthy personality development was the topic of the "Mid-Century White House Conference."
• 1960 - The "Golden Anniversary White House Conference on Children and Youth" expanded ways for children to explore their potential in order to discover creative freedom.
• 1971 - The "White House Conference on Youth" focused on the individuality of children through the support of healthy personality development. It was the last conference held. convened by President Richard M. Nixon, it was held from April 18 to April 21, 1971 in Estes Park, Colorado. Over one thousand delegates representing every state and U.S. territory were nominated by their respective governors and appointed by the President. This late April meeting was marred by a snowstorm that required the mobilization of nearby U.S. Army personnel to distribute winter gear to delegates unprepared for severe winter weather. Held at the height of the Vietnam War and amid growing youth dissatisfaction with the Nixon administration, many of the recommendations issued by the conference opposed existing U.S. policies.