Specifications include, but are not limited to: A. The general focus of this RFP is to locate a provider to implement the Reconnecting Youth (RYT) program, a school-based delinquency-prevention program for students in grades 6th through 12th in the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program. Research has shown that youth who do not develop psychosocial competencies of industry, competence, and identity may exhibit feelings of inferiority and confusion and struggle with social interactions and moral issues. A socially and emotionally impaired youth will act out their need for attention through classroom disruption, drug use, violence,poor school performance and increased engagement of the legal system. Youth expelled because of serious and persistent or felonious misbehaviors in school, homeor community tend to follow a path known as school to prison pipeline. It is the intent of the Reconnecting Youth Training Program for the youth to learn personal self-management, general social and drug resistance skills to succeed in school and life and avoid future expulsions.; B. The instructor of the Reconnecting Youth Training class will provide information and engage students in exercises to increase their knowledge of behavioral skills and personality strengths needed to cope with the everyday stresses of classroom, community and family life. Specific areas of development will include self-esteem, peer-pressure, anger-management, decision-making, assertiveness and communication. The instructor will also focus on the myths and realities of drug use and assist the students to relate the cause and effect of drug, violence and physical and emotional health.; C. The instructor will administer a provider selected personality survey (such as True or Real Colors) to assist students with an understanding of their personality and its impact on their behaviors, thoughts and feelings. The instructor will engage the students in the diversity of personalities, how to identify other’s personalities and how they may react differently to similar situations. The personality identification activities will empower youth to focus on their strengths and to work on responses that resulted in adverse reactions by authority figures, family and peers.; D. A provider selected career assessment survey will assist youth to focus on strengths, interests, and related career paths in which they may excel. Coupled with their personality assessment, the career survey will assist youth to identify the best fit for their aptitudes and the required skills that they need to develop and find life and job satisfaction. The instructor will assist youth to plan realistically for the training they will need to reach their education and career goals.; E. A trained, full-time RYT instructor will deliver the RYT program to students onsite each day of the school year (200 school days – beginning each August and ending each July) in a three (3) month rotation, providing services to 100 - 150 students a year. With 90 days as the average length of stay at JJAEP, this rotation will accommodate the transitional nature of JJAEP enrollment as students are admitted and discharged daily throughout the year. RYT for grades 4–8 is 30 class sessions to enhance students’ self-esteem, feelings of selfefficacy, ability to make decisions, and ability to resist peer and media pressure. RYT for grades 9-12 is ten (10) class sessions that help adolescents navigate the challenges of high school years and prepare them for the independence and responsibilities that they will encounter as young adults.; F. The RYT instructor will be a member of the JJAEP Care Team and participate in weekly meetings to review the progress of the students and to identify any special needs and required resources.
