The City of Cleveland Municipal Cabinet for Children and Youth is a groundbreaking initiative established through an Executive Order by Mayor Justin M. Bibb to transform how the city supports children, youth, and families. This Cabinet serves as a unified, cross-agency coordinating body that brings together city leaders, shared data, and resources to improve youth outcomes and drive systemic change.
This initiative prioritizes breaking down silos across municipal departments to ensure Cleveland’s young people have access to the resources they need to thrive—from birth through career and life readiness. It also establishes working committees to focus on key areas like prenatal to early childhood, educational outcomes and out-of-school time, college and career readiness, and overall wellbeing.
The Municipal Cabinet for Children and Youth was launched in August 2024 to advance the welfare of children and youth across Cleveland. The Cabinet is made up of City leadership across multiple departments/offices who are responsible for shaping and coordinating policies that impact young people.
Click to read the Municipal Cabinet for Children and Youth Executive Order!
The Cabinet is not another program—it’s a strategic shift in how Cleveland’s government operates to support children and youth.
Here’s how it works:
We envision a Cleveland where every young person has a voice, access to opportunity, and the support needed to thrive.
The Cabinet’s mission is to harness data, resources, and the full commitment of City Hall to advance youth well-being and improve the material conditions for children, families, and communities. By fostering collaboration, eliminating duplication, and aligning resources, we are creating a stronger, safer, and more equitable Cleveland for the next generation.
The Executive Order is a commitment to long-term systems change that will:
This effort is the first step toward transformational change, and we encourage all Clevelanders to stay tuned for ways to collaborate and get involved in the future.
Cleveland’s youth deserve the best—too many face barriers to success due to fragmented services and lack of coordination.
Stakeholders have called for change—Mayor Justin M. Bibb is responding by building a more integrated, efficient, and accountable system.
This work starts with us— the City is aligning our own efforts to better serve families and youth.
The Cabinet is designed to coordinate city services, align funding, and break down agency silos to create a more effective and responsive system for children, youth, and families in Cleveland.
Unlike previous efforts, this Cabinet starts with internal alignment first ensuring that city departments are working together before bringing in outside partners. The focus is on long-term systems change, not just temporary programs.
The Cabinet is made up of city leadership from departments including Youth & Family Success, Education, Public Health, Public Safety, Recreation & Parks, Community Development, Economic Development, and more.
Yes! While the Cabinet is focused first on internal coordination, there will be opportunities for community partners, nonprofits, and stakeholders to collaborate in the future. Stay tuned for updates.
The Cabinet has established four working committees to guide its work:
Follow the City of Cleveland’s official website and announcements for the latest news on the Municipal Cabinet’s initiatives and opportunities to get involved.
Want to learn more? Contact Samantha R. Holmes at sholmes2@clevelandohio.gov for more information or to connect about the Municipal Cabinet!