Reconnect for Life has been able to identify and survey about 27% of the total number of Opportunity Youth estimated to be in Kent County (180). The program relies on constant street outreach to ensure visibility and connecting with Opportunity Youth in their homes and communities. This performance measure only measures disconnected parenting youth, but in practice the Crisis to Thrive Tool was an important assessment tool for all disconnected youth. Reconnect for Life discontinued this measure after FY18 and replaced it with a measure that includes both parenting and non parenting disconnected youth. 

Reconnect for Life conducts an intake with any youth between 16 and 24 years old who is not working and not in school in Kent County. In FY18 a total of 49 opportunity youth took the assessment, 24 of whom were parents.

The number of disconnected youth is based on the number of intake surveys Reconnect for Life administers with qualifying Kent County youth. When the program manager identifies a disconnected youth, they fill out a google survey that covers demographic information and includes the Crisis to Thrive assessment. The Crisis to Thrive assessment measures their progression over time by capturing snap shots while building a case load. If a youth takes the assessment on their own (self referral) Reconnect for Life verifies that they are 16-24, not working and not in school, and then begins outreach. 

The intake is an on-line form that can be filled out by a service provider, Reconnect for Life staff, or the youth themselves. 

The intake tool is designed to be readily accessible and widely shared among youth in Kent County and those who work with them.  The link is posted on Chestertown's website and other local platforms. The program staff can fill it out the on a phone or tablet with the youth, wherever they may be.