Having youth complete a barrier screening is crucial to begin the process of preparing youth for education or work.  Many disconnected youth face multiple and extensive barriers that, until resolved, will prevent them from maintaining meaningful employment or successfully completing higher education.  Addressing these barriers has quickly become a crucial first step in the success of the Connecting Youth Program.

Partners include Carroll County Youth Service Bureau, Human Services Program, BERC, The Carroll County Detention Center and Access Carroll.

Reducing barriers such as childcare, transportation, housing and mental health will allow youth to begin to prepare for employment.  It is unrealistic to expect disconnected youth to remain employed when they face such intense challenges as lack of transportation or housing.  The engagement managers are able to work one-on-one with youth to put plans into place to begin to reduce the barriers, beginning with the most intensive needs first.

All youth who enter into the Connecting Youth program are given an opportunity to complete the barrier screening.  To date, all youth have been screened.  Youth are re-screened at 90 days to determine which barriers have been resolved and to address those barriers that still exist.

A specific barrier screening tool was created  for disconnected youth.  The screening is able to prioritize their needs, allowing the engagement manager to help the youth develop a plan to address the most crucial needs first.