Nationwide more than 5.6 million young people are disconnected, about one in seven (Governor's Office for Children). These vulnerable young people are cut off from people, institutions, and experiences that would help them develop the knowledge, and skills required to live rewarding lives as adults. There are astonishing variations in disconnection rates by race and ethnicity (chart above). For every 3 white disconnected youths, 6 people of color are disconnected. The negative effects of youth disconnected ricochet across the economy, the social sector, and the criminal justice system. 

Risk factors for youth disconnection

• Low emotional self-regulation
• Parental incarceration
• Neighborhood violence
• Family trauma and experiences of trauma
• Parental unemployment
• Not graduating high school or dropping out of school
• Experiencing discrimination at school or workplace
• Unequal access to basic resources: Internet and transportation

Protective factors for youth disconnection

There is no single factor that can protect an individual from becoming disconnected. However, there are several factors that can help youth maintain and strengthen connections.

• Opportunities and Training: youth who have access to more employment and educational opportunities are less likely to become disconnected.
• Environment: Youth who live in areas that are safe and consistent are more likely to stay connected
• Support System: Youth who have support and engagement from educators, peers, and parents are less likely to become disconnected
• Internal factors: Highly motivated individuals with good emotional regulation are higher achieving students and less likely to disconnect.

Priority Factors

• Environmental stressors, and individual mindset: inconsistent family income, experiences of trauma, and low emotional regulation.
• Income and access: Parental unemployment, unequal access to basic resources, disparities in school budget per student
• Promoting academic and career engagement among young people

Academic Support and Professional Development

• Montgomery County Public School (MCPS)
• Worksource Montgomery
• Montgomery College
• Vocational Schools
• Education non-profit partners (ie. LAYC, IMPACT)

Parental Involvement

• Parent-Teacher Associations
• Literacy Council of Maryland
• Maryland Family Literacy Program
• Family Involvement Laboratory at the University of Maryland
• Parents' Place of Maryland
• Families First Program
• The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families

Professional Growth

• Worksource Montgomery
• Labor Unions
• Maryland's American Job Centers
• Local businesses
• Maryland's Business Services

Accessibility

• Uber Rides and Lyft - assistance with transportation
• Department of Human Services (DHS) - transportation, health, and other support
• Montgomery County Food Council - SNAP applications
• Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) - resources for community assistance
• Crossroads Farmer's Market - Healthy food source for SNAP candidates
• Comcast or Verizon or private businesses - provide computers, Internet, and other resource for academic

•  Advocacy training for parents to get involved in school decision-making. Parents learn about the state of the public education system, how to read and understand test data, and how to partner with school administrators and other parents.
• Alternative education to fit disconnected youth needs. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act provides soft skill training (managing stress, personal instructions, etc..), external vocational training, paid work experience (WEX), and Employment services. 
• Wellness Centers inside low-income High Schools - centers that provide additional academic and personal support to individuals who are at risk of disconnection.
• Partnerships with labor unions and local businesses for job placement of disconnected youth.
• Providing childcare services for teen parents in school/stipend for childcare
• Paid internship for disconnected youth to get work experience, networking opportunities without being financially impacted from unpaid internships.

• Promotoras - Advocacy training for parents in low-income schools that includes childcare services and wage compensation for attending advocacy events/board meetings at schools (advocacy workshops, education on school policies, and networking opportunities).
• Partnerships with labor unions and local businesses for job placement of disconnected youth. 
• Creating a sustainable model of re-engagement that includes educational and job training programs for disconnected youth, and incorporates case management and resources assistance (WIOA, LAYC, Identity Inc.)
• Wellness Centers that provide academic, and personal counseling to individuals who are at risk of disconnection
• Eliminating access barriers to education and employment (transportation, childcare, food insecurity, etc..) - Private businesses (Uber, Lyft),  community groups (Feed the Fridge), government funds (SNAP, WIOA).