FY23: The Bowie Disconnected Youth Program Served 101 youth and also met their target in FY 23. One of their service areas, Tall Oaks Alternative High School, changed its name and format to Nontraditional Program, North. Along with this change came new structure, and new school administration and staff members. As a result, the provider developed flexibility around time and venue, engaged in relationship-building with new school staff members, and the participants were engaged through use of active format and use of lunch and gift cards as incentives for successful outcomes.

In addition, the program also offered a mentorship Programs where the students worked with mentors who provided guidance, support, and encouragement which had a positive impact on the participants’ lives. Mentors helped the youth set goals, develop life skills, and make informed decisions about their future.

Staff from the Bowie Disconnected Youth Program also provided counseling and support services and or referrals to youth experiencing mental illnesses to mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and to social services to address the underlying challenges that contributed to disconnections. By addressing these issues, disconnected youth were better equipped to engage in education and employment opportunities.

FY 21- HFY1

YSB- Bowie Disconnected Youth Program

The YSB- Bowie Disconnected Program served 88 youths (110%), which reflects eight more than the target number of youths to be served for FY21. The education attainment program explored issues that were keeping participants offline. The instructor discusses the pros and cons of continuous absences from classes and provide additional services to youths, such as; support groups, counseling, mentoring and individual problem solving to those who are struggling the most.
 

The Bowie Disconnected Youth Program also offers:

 Life Skills Groups:  Mondays - 6:30 pm - 7: 30 pm / 4 to 8 weeks program
Additional Services: job fair, counseling, parenting and other groups, resume-writing and interview workshops

The Bowie Youth & Family Services (BYFS) will provide the following services to disconnected youth:

• Job-readiness and employment assistance: 
• Mentoring:
• An annual job/vocational education fair: Skill-building groups: 
• Group goals include teaching the following soft skills: Botvin’s LifeSkills Training:

Youth 16 – 24 yrs. old disconnected from education and residing in the following zip codes in northern county: 20703, 20782, 20710 and 20781, and Tall Oaks Alternative High School