Project Grant 21SFBMD003

THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES IS THE CENTRAL CABINET --LEVEL AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND TREATMENT OF YOUTH OFFENDERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF SEVEN AND TWENTY-ONE. THE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION SEEKS TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, TO HOLD YOUTH OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE TO VICTIMS AND COMMUNITIES, AND TO DEVELOP YOUTH COMPETENCY AND CHARACTER TO ASSIST THEM IN BECOMING RESPONSIBLE AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. IN CARRYING OUT ITS MISSION, DJS EMBRACES A BALANCED AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PHILOSOPHY INCORPORATING EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES. AN ESTIMATED 60 AMERICORPS SENIORS FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS, AS TUTORS, AND AS MENTORS. OF THIS NUMBER, 60 AMERICORPS SENIORS VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. THEY WILL PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZE TUTORING AND MENTORING TO YOUTH IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING ASSISTANCE THROUGH A NETWORK OF TWENTY-FIVE STATIONS SUCH AS; ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES, DAY/EVENING REPORTING CENTERS, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND READING PARTNERS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE INDIVIDUALIZED AND SMALL GROUP READING FOCUSING ON READING COMPREHENSION AND WORD RECOGNITION, ENCOURAGING YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS, PRACTICING PROPER CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR, AND TO COMPLETE CLASSROOM AND HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THE PROJECT IS EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE; IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN LITERACY AND OR MATH, AND IMPROVED OVERALL ACADEMICS. THE AMERICORPS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $350,114 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $133,254 NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES.