East Baltimore Youth & Family Services (EBYFS) provides services as a Youth Service Bureau at Patterson High School in East Baltimore during the school year and expands services to Oliver Recreation Center during summer months. EBYFS has developed a strong working relationship with the staff and teachers at Patterson High School and Oliver Recreation Center continues to see a rising demand for services through staff referrals to our counselor onsite. Program activity during this reporting period included: social skills classes, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly counseling services, case-management, resource referrals, follow-up, participation in IEP and 504 meetings, school attendance meetings, and staff professional development. 

In the 3^rd quarter EBYFS served 42 participants. If we combined with quarters 1 and 3 the target of 73 was exceeded with a total of 74 participants. This success can be attributed to the relationship with working relationship with the staff at Patterson High School and Oliver Recreation Center. Of the 42 participants served, only 2 were linked to community-based services. The cause of the low referrals and missed target is because participants are attending a Community School where wrap around services are accessible within the school. Of the participants who were referred, two youth kept their appointment. In terms of the better off measures, the participants  who were 90 or more days out from discharge, none were engaged with DJS. 

 The following services were provided during in quarter 3 an 4: formal and informal counseling services for the students during this quarter counseling (5 times a week), connection to community based resources (5 times a week), case-management (5 times a week), and SST meetings (bi-weekly). 

There were two significant challenges that occurred in the second half of the year. The first challenge experienced during this period was school attendance of participants, which directly impacted the delivery of services. Since then, a plan has been implemented to actively engage the family to ensure participants realize the full benefit of services and the matter was brought to the attention of the attendance committee at Patterson High School who are employing strategies to address chronic absenteeism. To provide more effective programming, the staff contacted each participant’s parents in the beginning of the treatment process to collaborate on service delivery and to work as a team. Secondly Patterson High School was undergoing staff transition during this period. The staff that were remaining were focused on the closing of the High School due to renovations. EBYFS met with the school counseling division to transfer the cases that are in need of follow up for the next school year.

In the first two quarters of fiscal year (FY) 2019, there are two performance measures that were trending below their targets. The first is the “how much” performance measure focused on linkages to community-based services. The second measure is the “how well” measure of the number/percent of individuals who attended the first appointment after referral.

Family League implemented the following action plan in FY19 to ensure that targets for these measures are met EBYFS, in conjunction with youth participants, plans were developed to increase referrals to and engagement with community-based services. EBYFS worked with participants to schedule appointments and remove any barriers that exist for youth to attend the first appointment after the referral is made. EBYFS identified a target population and ensure that performance measures are aligned accordingly.

Unfortunately, after ongoing technical assistance to EBYFS was unable to break down the barriers to reaching these targets.  We did not see an increase from these measures in quarter 1 and 2 in quarter 3 and do not yet have any data from the partner from quarter 4. We will not be working with this partner in the same capacity for FY 20.  

As the end of the year approaches so does High School graduation for many of the program participants. In one such case a 12th grade student will attend a nursing program at either Coppin State or Bowie State after graduating from Patterson High. EBYFS has worked with this student over the last three years. Other Successes include assisting one of the clients referred to the program with a high absentee rate and many office referrals. The program has made a drastic change with formal counseling sessions. This student has increased their attendance and reduced disruptive office visits. This student successfully completed the program. As well as several the participants going to college in the fall.

Youth Services Bureaus are community-based, non-residential organizations that provide formal and informal counseling, case management, and crisis management services to youth. They serve a critical function in Baltimore by working to keep at-risk children and youth connected with their schools and communities.

Youth who are engaging in or at-risk of engaging in high-risk behaviors. Individuals are referred from Patterson High School, the Department of Juvenile Services, Baltimore City courts, and families.