Identity Inc

IDENTITY CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LATINO & OTHER YOUTH TO REALIZE THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS OF MULTIPLE INTERACTIVE SESSIONS THAT ADDRESS LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING; SELF-IDENTITY; BUILDING SKILLS AROUND COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION; INCREASING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, SEXUALITY AND RELATIONSHIPS; AND LEARNING ABOUT GOAL SETTING. A WEEKEND OR OVERNIGHT RETREAT PROVIDES MORE INTENSIVE COVERAGE OF SELECTED TOPICS. THE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED DURING BOTH THE FALL AND SPRING SESSIONS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND DURING THE SUMMER.PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR PARENTS OF THE YOUTH ENTROLLED IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM. MULTIPLE SESSIONS FOCUS ON PARENTING SKILLS THAT HELP PARENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS AND HOW TO BETTER SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS.AS PLANNED, IDENTITY DEVELOPED A NEW MODEL FOR A BILINGUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM (AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER) THAT BUILDS UPON OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND EXISTING IDENTITY PROGRAMS. FUNDED BY TWO MARYLAND 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER GRANTS, THESE PROGRAMS INCORPORATE NEW APPROACHES TO DEVELOP THE UNTAPPED STRENGTHS OF OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO IMPROVE THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THE GRANTS ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE THIS PROGRAM OVER THREE YEARS IN THREE LOW-INCOME MONTGOMERY COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOLS WITH PARTICULARLY HIGH LATINO ENROLLMENT. CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRAL SERVICES FOR LATINO YOUTH AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. IDENTITY'S PROGRAMS ARE CONDUCTED IN SPANISH/ENGLISH AND ARE FREE OF CHARGE.AS MINORS FLEEING VIOLENCE IN CENTRAL AMERICA ARRIVED IN GROWING NUMBERS LAST YEAR, WE UTILIZED OUR EXPERIENCE WITH NEWLY-ARRIVED YOUTH AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER GROUPS TO CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES. OUR CASE MANAGERS HELPED GAIN RELEASE OF MINORS TO THE CUSTODY OF THEIR FAMILIES, ARRANGED FOR NECESSITIES SUCH AS HEALTH CARE AND CLOTHING, AND ASSISTED WITH SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS. OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS WELCOMED MANY OF THESE YOUTH. IDENTITY ALSO SPEARHEADED EFFORTS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS TO COORDINATE THEIR WORK AND TO ADVOCATE JOINTLY FOR SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY.