Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $492,150)
Youth Empowerment Services (YES) will integrate the REACH to Connect program into a broad based and community-wide collaboration to serve over 200 young youth and their parents. Data from the Charleston County School District show that during 2003-2004, the county had a total of the following: 16,843 suspensions, 547 dropouts, and 331 expulsions. Over half of the dropouts were 9th and 10th graders and over 50 percent of the expulsions were due to physical violence and criminal offenses. Rather than spending their out-of-school time at-risk, expelled Charleston County youth will attend the REACH program from 9am to 1pm daily. Suspended youth will attend the program during the days of their suspension and will continue to participate in the evenings with mentors and in various weekend and community service activities. Enrolled youth will receive 'wrap around' services and components of the Multi Systemic Therapy which is a goal-oriented treatment that specifically targets factors in each youth's social network that are contributing to his/her anti-social behavior. Trained professional teachers and mentors will serve as teachers and program facilitators. Activities will include community-based mentoring program, tutoring in basic skills, basic computer and entrepreneurial training, service learning, conflict resolution, job shadowing, career exploration, goal setting, character/life skills, financial literacy, exercise and nutrition, monthly parenting classes and follow-up. Y.E.S. will collaborate with the Charleston County School Board and others to ensure the successful reentry of REACH participants back into the regular classroom or the attaining of a GED once they have successfully completed the program requirements. CA/NCF