Background

• Identify the need—Nationally 1/2 of all African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans do not complete high school with their peers. Baltimore had a 50% dropout rate in 1998-99

• Convene the key players such as educational institutions; youth service providers, government agencies and officials, civic organizations, foundations

• Assess gaps in services for out-of-school youth

• Take advantage of funding opportunities when they arise.

What’s YO! Baltimore?The United State Department of Labor issued an RFP for a holistic, youth development approach to serve the most at-risk youth in targeted economically distressed areas, such as the Baltimore City Empowerment Zone.

This grant awarded to Baltimore was $44M over a 6-year period.

What did YO! Baltimore do with the money?

• Created two large youth-friendly center fully equipped with technology And three satellite, community-based centers.

• Featuring:• Assessments to determine the developmental levels of

participants• Caring adult advocates (trained for cultural competencies) • All levels of academic remediation from basic literacy to GED and

college preparation• Life and job readiness skills• Cultural enrichment activities such as trips and conferences• Career exploration, tours, career training and job placement• Mental health and substance abuse counseling on site• Health services on site

YO! Baltimore reported on the results:Reduced teen pregnancyReduced recidivismIncreased wagesIncreased academic attainmentSuccess stories made it personal

Detailed data can be found in the

Changing Minds Changing Lives Report

What happened when the grant was over?

Network Support

A group of 10 former Youth Opportunity providers came together to share best practices, resource

information and build public awareness of the need to support at-risk out-of-school youth.

Performance-driven data sells the results to

prospective funders.

· Baltimore City Government (general population)· Baltimore City Health Department (in-kind health services)· The Maryland State Department of Labor Licensing and Regulations (the most at-risk youth from foster care to youth in anyway related to the Justice System and financial disability)· The Weinberg Foundation, Inc. (training)· Baltimore City Department of Social Services (Foster Care)· Baltimore City Public School System (YO! Academy—an alternative high school)· Civic Works (green career training)· Family League of Baltimore City (PACT evening reporting center—an alternative to detention for young men)· Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition (operations)· Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (education and resources)

· Maryland State Department of Juvenile Justice (referrals) · Maryland State Department of Vital Records (delayed billing) · Fox affiliate/TV Channel 24 (in-kind recruitment PSA’s) · Juvenile Courts Division (referrals) · The Maryland Mediation Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO—staff and participant training dollars) · Baltimore Opera Company (in-kind tickets to dress rehearsal) · The United States Department of Labor (targeting services to reduce gang memberships and violence) · Annie E. Casey Foundation (funding for operations and staffing) · Baltimore Mental Health Associates (mental health services) · Youth Build (training) · Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, Inc. (increased mental health services) 

Performance-driven data sells the results to prospective funders.

What changed?

Stayed the same: Baltimore’s commitment to the expandedyouth-development model

Lost: Baltimore lost 3 satellite centers

Gained: The capacity to serve all out-of-school youth 16 to 22 years of age

Increased support for targeted populations such as foster care, youth in detention

Services for Disconnected Youth in Baltimore City

• YO! Baltimore Centers (Eastside and Westside) serving 1000 out-of-school youth annually

• YO! Academy—An alternative high school serving 140 students annually

• WIA Career Academy—An alternative high school serving 100 students annually

• WIA Healthcare Alliance—Training in health careers

• Summer Jobs—Introducing thousands of youth to employment each year

Questions-- Contact

Mr. Ernest F. Dorsey, DirectorYouth Opportunity (YO!) Division

Mayor’s Office of Employment Development101 W. 24th Street

Baltimore, MD 21218edorsey@oedworks.com

410-396-6722