High school graduation is the single most significant predictor for improving socio-economic status and success. Sadly, youth experiencing housing instability face numerous barriers to successful completion of high school.
The New Horizons program helps overcome these barriers for McKinney-Vento youth experiencing homelessness within Frederick County Public Schools, advocating and effectively connecting them to community services which will help to break the cycle of their situation and position them for future success. With a dedicated staff of case managers that conduct Needs Assessments for each student, followed by the co-creation of a personalized service plan with the student that connects them to community services, New Horizons is designed to increase the likelihood of an on-time graduation to alleviate future homelessness.
New Horizons’ spectrum of program services include:
- Housing options – connecting youth to safe, stable and secure housing as needed
- Personal Health – providing youth with access to medical, vision, dental, and mental health supports
- Social/Emotional – connecting youth to enrichment programming across a spectrum of interests and activities
- Education supports – providing strengths-based, positive habit building and access to tutoring
- Economic – providing access to career and work exploration, and connecting to employment skill-building resources
- Legal – working to ensure the students rights are protected and honored.
New Horizons Academy Summer Program
This annual five-week summer program provides high school students experiencing housing instability with core subject instruction needed for graduation, and life skills workshops designed to inspire and promote growth. For those youth who wish to work, eligible youth participating in the Academy program can also work part-time in the Summer Jobs program provided by Frederick County Workforce Services.
