Youth Empowerment Source Inc

Disconnected youth (the legacy program) - assists youth between the age of 16 and 24 years old who have not graduated high school or graduated and are struggling to find and sustain employment. Program participants are provided ged assistance, transitional life skills lessons, soft job skills, conflict resolution and various opportunities to improve their future. Over 70 referrals to legacy programs in fy25. Financial literacy classes were offered and completed through a collaboration with apgfcu. Ged seminar classes were conducted on wednesdays/thursdays each week in-person and transportation is provided. Highlights: 21 students received thanksgiving baskets and 18 received angel tree gifts for christmas. 25 clients completed the prepare u mental health curriculum.

Children of incarcerated parents (coip) - coip is designed to provide support to children 5-17 who are experiencing the effects of parental incarceration and uses case management, life skills training, and mediation to strengthen families dealing with the impacts of incarceration. During fy24, 25 coip clients were referred, over 200 lifeskills lessons administered throughout the year, 822 contacts made with students/families, 96% of cecil county detention center participants rate the nurturing parenting program as excellent. 96% of parents/guardians report improved family stability in the home, as measured by the year-end survey. Highlights include: 10 clients received turkey baskets, several clients reunited with their parents after being released from incarceration, 7 clients received gifts from angel tree, 10 clients received free backpacks and school supplies. Seven coip clients completed the prepare u mental health curriculum.

In fy24, the stride program received 44 referrals. The most common reason for referral was "truancy/school issues" followed by "family issues/conflict". Life skills lessons were administered to stride participants and 94% showed improvement in overall knowledge with a substantial increase in drug resistance skills. My family matters parenting workshops were held at local schools and served 82 families. The evidence based nurturing parenting curriculum was also provided to more than 251 detainees at the cecil county detention center, in an ongoing effort to reduce child maltreatment rates in cecil county.camp activate provided 5 weeks for free summer camp to at risk students at 3 locations. Nutrition, science and substance prevention lessons were provided to over 70 students.