Identity of Maryland

At school, in the community, and on playing fields, Identity not only keeps young people engaged in their education, older youth in their work skills development and parents and other caring adults equipped to help them, but also provides emotional support programs, lifesaving safety net services and compassionate human connection to stave off hunger, homelessness and despair in the most vulnerable youth and families. We work with more than 10,000 clients a year, benefiting approximately 45,000+ residents of montgomery county, md.identity helps youth, and the families who love them, improve social and emotional skills, achieve academic success and prepare for work. Identity assists students, older youth and families with programming in elementary, middle and high schools and through six high school-based wellness centers, two youth opportunity centers and virtually across montgomery county. Identity programs and services are research-based and rigorously evaluated. Identity youth report significant improvements in their ability to resolve conflict, speak up for themselves, manage difficult emotions, avoid substance use and delinquent behavior and (re) connect to school and/or the workforce. Identity youth show improvements in expectations for a positive future and in the social and emotional skills necessary for academic success. Their families report improved communication and more involvement in their child's education. Programs and services are complemented by family case management, workforce development, mental health and substance abuse counseling, non-clinical emotional support, and recreation. We also work to empower parents to engage in their child's education and be a champion for their success. Identity's three largest program services by expenses are case management, high school-based wellness centers, and youth opportunity centers.identity's case management program provides youth and families in need with essential resources to stabilize their basic needs and help them achieve self-sufficiency. This year, more than 6,300 youth and families received over 24,000 safety-net services either directly or by referral, with 93% of all referrals successfully completed.identity manages six high school-based wellness centers that combine individual and group-based social and emotional supports with access to medical care and serve as hubs for programs and services rooted in the positive youth development model to strengthen school connectedness and protective factors that have been shown to lead to better academic and life outcomes. This year, the wellness centers served 3,070 youth and their families (reflecting 25% of the overall student populations in those schools) with curriculum-based programs, non-clinical emotional support, counseling, case management, therapeutic recreation and other enriching activities.identity manages montgomery county's upcounty and downcounty youth opportunity centers. The yocs emphasize building social and emotional and job readiness skills to help vulnerable older youth (re) connect to the education system, the workforce, their families and the community. This year, the yocs served 559 clients with individual mentoring, counseling, ged and esl classes, safety-net supports and workforce development including career pathways and industry-recognized certifications. Through the yocs we also work with eight bridge to wellness high schools to provide positive youth development programs and services that increase protective factors shown to help students connect to their peers, school and education.