Chesapeake College – Actively partners to provide stage-based education track opportunities for Reconnect for Life’s opportunity youth.  These can range from customized tours and admission guidance to themed certificate offerings like Customer Service. The College offers Adult Basic Education and GED classes at the family support center and the detention center on a regular basis as well. Reconnect for Life works closely with the college to address barriers like transportation, child care, and food. 

Kent Family Center – The local family support center sub contracts with Maryland Rural Development Corporation to provide case management for opportunity youth in the active cohort. They are a Two Generation Partner by using the Crisis to Thrive Tool. They were a vital partner since the planning phase and have helped to refer and engage opportunity youth, especially parenting opportunity youth. The support center also provides space for workshops and activities.

MRDC Housing Outreach Office – referral source and Two Generation partner.  When Reconnect for Life opportunity youth have housing needs, the program manager takes them to the Housing Outreach office where the youth completes the Crisis to Thrive assessment.

Head Start – Located next door to the family support center, Head Start primarily provides referrals.  They also serve as an employment partner, having hired a Reconnect for Life opportunity youth in August 2018.

American Job Center – Co-located with the family support center, Head Start, and the Housing Outreach Office, the AJC provides referrals and employment assessments and services. They have been part of the planning process to more effectively connect services to opportunity youth, and have been asked to use the Crisis to Thrive Tool, but they have been able to partner at that level yet.

Department of Social Services – referral source and service provider

Local Media – interviews with local radio stations and newspaper.  The program manager has also presented to Town Councils and broadcasts his publicity work on social media.

Local Employers – Reconnect for Life opportunity youth have been placed in jobs with local businesses like Echo Hill Camp, Acme, Arby’s, Eastern Shore Tents and Events, Taco Bell, Whiting Turner Construction, ELB Car Shop, and Waterman’s Crab Shack.

Word of mouth referrals are essential for a program like Reconnect for Life. The active cohort often brings peers into the program, keeps them in, or bring them back in after they experience a set back. 

Opportunity Youth are responding positively to Reconnect for Life because the program is tailored to them. The program manager serves as an advocate who is knocking on every door and clearing any barrier to help get the youth onto an education or employment track. As more youth are placed in programs or employment, it builds the program’s credibility in the community. Since many opportunity youth have been let down by past programs and relationships, this credibility is essential.

Satisfaction Surveys are completed every 6 months.  MRDC has received 7 satisfaction surveys by the end of FY18, 6 of whom replied that they would recommend the program and 1 who said no. MRDC created a simple on-line form for youth to complete.  The program manager sent it to youth via social media and email, which was followed up with an email from the program supervisor. In FY19 MRDC will send out a similar form but offer an incentive to complete it.

In FY20 Kent Family Center completed satisfaction surveys with their 10 enrolled youth.  About Child Trauma did not implement surveys in the first half of the year.  Of the 10 surveyed, 100% responded positively.  

On-line satisfaction survey