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.

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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