Amount Requested: $250,000
The HOPE (Helping Our People Excel) Project is geared to meeting the needs of at-risk youth age 12-17.  This requested funding will be spent on staff who will have direct contact with at-risk youth providing mentoring opportunities, homework help and tutoring, preparing youth to be compentant employees, and providing opportunities for youth to improve social conduct. Typically these youth come from very low income families, have poor educational attainment. insecure housing, lack of positive parental support and lack of community based support.  The program provides homework help and tutoring in conjunction with the Mt. St. Mary Graduate School of Education.

Enrolled youth enter the program at or below grade level, have high truancy rates, and often experience disciplinary problems.  Historically, youth served by this program have a reduced rate of truancy and show an improvement in scores as they work toward grade level and reduced incidences of disciplinary action.  A key component to youth services is to address the needs of the entire family.  The group's relationship with the Housing Resource Center and the Department of Social Services allows it expedited access to resources to address housing needs.  By stabilizing housing, families move less frequently thereby allowing participants to remain in their home school and be more successful.

The program has also assisted families in getting mediation services and treatment services as well as family reunification after incarceration.  An important part of the transition to adulthood is moving into the workforce.  The program offers job readiness skill and preparation including resume writing, job search and practice interviews.