Identity

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 equipped to help them, but also delivers lifesaving safety net support and caring 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 50,000 residents of montgomery county, md.we help youth, and the families who love them, improve social-emotional skills, achieve academic success, and prepare for work. Identity assists students, older youth, and families with programming before and/or after-school in 20+ elementary, middle, and high schools and through four high school-based wellness centers, two youth opportunity centers and across montgomery county. Identity youth report significant improvements in their ability to resolve conflict, speak up for themselves, manage difficult emotions, avoid substance abuse 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 emotional skills necessary for academic success. Their families report improved communication and more involvement in their child's education. Almost 400 youth and adults enrolled in workforce development services; one third obtained jobs or paid internships and one quarter earned career pathway certifications or industry recognized certifications.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 low-income and historically underserved youth and families with essential resources to stabilize their basic needs and help them achieve self-sufficiency. This year, 7,247 youth and families received 26,436 referrals for safety net services and benefits, with 95% of all referrals successfully completed.identity manages four high school-based wellness centers that combine individual and group-based social-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 wcs served 2,228 youth and their families (reflecting 25% of the overall student populations) 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-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 605 clients with individual mentoring, counseling, ged and esl classes and workforce development including career pathways and industry-recognized certifications.