›› South Carolina Young Adults Count State Report

Conclusion

The Challenge for Action

Like the children whom they were, South Carolina's young adults are our future: a future somewhat obscured by their sometimes brilliant but often awkward transition in fulfilling their potential as parents, workers, and community contributors.

The problems of young adults present public policy challenges that can be addressed only through integrated approaches. Public and private programs will prove insufficient if they are uncoordinated and narrow in focus. Fragmented public and private efforts must not seek single-focus solutions to such young adult problems as undereducation and inadequate literacy, unemployment and low income, disruption of marriage, pervasive single parenting, crime, and irresponsible risk-taking through alcohol, drugs, smoking, violence, or sex.

Society must recognize and engage the current strengths and great potential of young adults, transforming them from sometimes troublesome liabilities into valuable assets. The best 401K or pension opportunity to support the Boomers when they start retiring around 2010 will be the enormous productive potential of GenXers and future cohorts of young adults.

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