FY24: Due to the long-term inability to fill the Clinical Case Manager position with a qualified candidate, the position was eliminated from the program. The program hired a full-time Engagement Manager, a part-time Engagement Manager, and an intern student from McDaniel College. The waitlist has now been eliminated. This program is structured as a partnership between the Carroll County Workforce and Development (CCWD), the Carroll County Youth Service Bureau (CCYSB), and the Human Services Programs (HSP) who work with disconnected youth to identify basic needs; develop short and long-term goals; address barriers that prevent them from engagement; help connect them to the appropriate agencies for services; and provide on-going support. A secondary program strategy utilizes the Connecting Youth Coordinating Council to facilitate a coordinated, countywide approach to re-engage these youth. The program incorporates best practices for assisting transitional aged youth by improving school enrollment; facilitating connection to employment services; addressing homelessness through rapid rehousing models; and providing trauma informed services.• Another key tenet of this program is its low/no barrier approach with an emphasis on the availability of services. Youth may un-enroll from the program and come back at any time if they are aged 16-24. This tenet is critical as these youth may experience periods of severe disconnection and then decide to return to reestablish engagement.

Previous Narrative: In Carroll County, over 95% of youth graduate from high school.  However, there are approximately 1,500 youth living in Carroll who are not in school and not working.  These are youth who have a high school diploma but are unable to successfully remain employed or in a higher education setting.  Many have untreated mental health issues and or substance use disorder and often do not engage in treatment.  Barriers to treatment include a long waiting list, a shortage of psychiatric services, and a lack of reliable and or affordable transportation to providers.  Without proper mental health and substance use treatment, youth are not able to remain successfully employed.  In addition, prior to Connecting Youth, the county lacked a streamlined process for engaging youth in services.  Youth often received referrals to multiple agencies but lacked the support of a case manager to help navigate the complicated and siloed system of services.

Carroll County Youth Service Bureau, Human Services Program, BERC (Business Employment Resource Center), Change, Inc., Bureau of Housing and Community Connections- Carroll County Government, Carroll County Public Schools.

When Ronnie was referred to Connecting Youth six months ago he was unemployed, not in school, and struggling to succeed with the level of support he had.  DORS and his mental health provider were both in the process of discharging him from their supportive employment program because he could not seem to maintain a job, even with the level of support he was receiving.  He struggled to communicate with his supports and supervisors because of his anxiety.

Once Ronnie was referred, the CY staff was able to quickly intervene and act as a liaison between him and his service providers.  Additionally, the program staff connected Ronnie to BERC and Change, Inc. Through BERC, Ronnie began taking math classes to prepare for further education and driving lessons to obtain his permit.  BERC offered him a paid work experience that perfectly matched his interest and strengths.  Chage, Inc. has been supporting him throughout this process and will job coach him while he is at his paid work experience.

In addition, CY staff have been helping him navigate the social service system and were able to assist him in securing food stamp benefits.  When Ronnie was feeling too anxious to go grocery shopping by himself, staff accompanied him and assisted him in making healthy, nutritional choices and taught him to prepare easy meals.  Ronnie has also become a regular in the CY support group and attends every week.  He has made meaningful friendships and has been able to have discussions about mental health, resiliency, and mindfulness in a safe and supportive environment.

FY23: CYCC successfully reduces significant barriers such as mental health treatment, transportation, lack of education, poverty, and homelessness for disconnected youth (16-24 years) in Carroll County (Carroll), thus reengaging and setting them upon a path to self-sufficiency.

The program contributes to the coordinated county-wide approach of achieving reengagement by partnerships with Carroll County Workforce Development to address employment barriers; the Human Services Programs (HSP) and the Carroll County Government’s Bureau of Housing to address the barrier of homelessness; and when deemed appropriate, Carroll County Youth Service Bureau (CCYSB) provides behavioral health services at its outpatient mental health clinic. Services related to transportation are often coordinated by the CYCC team and include ride arrangement or provision by staff itself. CYCC utilizes a team consisting of a Program Director, a Clinical Case Manager, and Engagement Case Managers to ensure the necessary wraparound services vital to achieving success are provided.

Connecting Youth In Carroll County targets youth age 16-24 who are not in school, not working, and/or who may be homeless.

FY24: Youth Vignette: Steven is a 23-year-old male who referred himself into the Connecting Youth program in October of 2023. He was staying at HSP’s night by night shelter and was already working a full-time job, but the income was not enough for him to be financially stable on his own. Steven could not drive but was working towards obtaining his learner’s permit and was using a bicycle for transportation. The Engagement Manager assisted him in obtaining an additional part-time job to save enough money to obtain affordable and stable housing. The Engagement Manager and Intern helped Steven apply for affordable housing options and assisted in searching for apartments. Within a week, Steven found a home he liked, toured the property, and was approved for the apartment. The following week, Steven was able to sign the lease, pick up the apartment keys, and drop his belongings into his new apartment. The Engagement Manager and the Intern took Steven shopping for enough necessities and hygiene products to hold him through a couple of nights. They also assisted him with getting some household needs, setting up utilities, and moving in. After moving into his new place, Steven’s engagement with the program decreased but he continues to reach out when he notices he is struggling to reengage.

FY24: HFY2 Youth Vignette - Riley is an 18-year-old transgender youth who was referred by their school counselor their senior year of high school. At the time, Riley had left their home where they lived with their mother and younger sibling. Riley left due to conflict and at the time, felt as though the adult overnight shelter was a better place than home. By the time Connecting Youth met with Riley for their intake, they had returned home and reported they were doing whatever they could to get through their senior year. In addition to housing instability concerns, Riley had several barriers including no transportation, no employment history, no family support, and limited peer support. Riely also reported having a long history of mental health concerns including being diagnosed with a mood disorder, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder. Immediately after Riley’s CCYSB intake at Riley’s school, CYCC staff coordinated with the local housing authority and their school counselor to set up a team meeting to discuss plans for Riley’s stability and responsibilities for the end of the school year. As a team they obtained clinical mental health records needed to facilitate a referral to the CCYSB mobile treatment program to reduce transportation barriers to treatment. Additionally, they coordinated transportation between programs for Riley to attend graduation practices and activities. Riley was able to successfully graduate at the end of the school year and was working with their housing stability coordinator and CYCC Engagement Manager to begin working towards the next steps of obtaining employment. Riley is anticipated to start mental health treatment with CCYSB’s mobile treatment team in July or August 2024. They have not been homeless again since enrolling in the program and have established goals for themselves to obtain employment so they can save for their own place with support.

FY23: YOUTH VIGNETTE: After a few weeks of working with an Engagement Manager, one of the program's clients enrolled in mental health treatment including psychiatric treatment and therapy. These services have not only been helpful in reducing this youth's symptoms and stabilizing their mental health but have also helped them remain in compliance with their probation requirements. As a result, this youth was allowed to return to the homeless shelter which was one of their first goals in the program. This youth has shared that they feel as though they are in a better place and acknowledges they need mental health treatment to maintain their stability. This youth continues to engage in treatment, has sustained part-time employment, and recently started participating in the program’s support group. This youth is on a waitlist for a housing voucher and is working on obtaining their driving permit. This youth would like to continue working towards living independently in their own place while sustaining the progress and stability they have gained in the program.

Connecting Youth in Carroll  serves disconnected youth across two program vendors.  The Youth Service Bureau and Human Services program each have distinct roles, but each youth interact with both agencies'  staff across the span of the program, as dicated by their unique and changing circumstances.  Data for the number of youth served will be duplicated for each vendor for FY 19. 

FY 20: Connecting Youth will be provided by just one vendor, Carroll County Youth Service Bureau. 

Connecting Youth utilizes a barrier screening for each youth, designed to prioritize and identify the barriers that are keeping youth from employment, secure hosuing and or additional educational opportunities.

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