Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore Inc.

Program Overview and Background

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore (BGCMB) is to enable all young people, especially those who
need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

We live our mission through our 4 Clubhouses (1 community–based, 2 within public housing sites, 1 school–based) that serveyouth who reside throughout Baltimore. Our focus is on our Brooklyn Clubhouse, in South Baltimore, where it is plagued with a multitude of issues including poverty, health concerns and opioid abuse.

Program Services

Our overarching goal for the 3–year program is to improve prosocial outcomes for at–risk youth in the Brooklyn neighborhood of South Baltimore while reducing negative outcomes (juvenile delinquency and substance use) through mentoring.

The program objectives associated with the program’s goal are to (1) provide mentoring services tailored to the needs of at–risk
youth ages 8–17 each year who are currently using or have used opioids, youth at high risk for using opioids, and youth with family members who are currently using or have used opioids; and (2) implement program design enhancements in the three identified interventions (Project Learn, Positive Action, SMART Leaders) that further align with research and evidence on effective mentoring approaches, all of which have been documented as effective at deterring opioid use among youth.

The partnering public substance abuse treatment agency was chosen based on the current relationship and their proximity to the Club. The partnering agency will accept referrals for any club family member needing treatment. They will also offer family engagement activities directly in the Clubhouse.

Target Population

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore (BGCMB) project is housed at the community–based Brooklyn O’Malley Club, located in South Baltimore. The Club is in a QOZ and high–poverty area within Baltimore City, which is part of the Baltimore/Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The priority target population is youth ages 8–17 who attend Maree Garnett Farring School (adjacent to the Brooklyn Clubhouse) who have been impacted by opioids. This population includes youth who are currently using or have used opioids, youth at high risk for using opioids, and youth with family members who are currently using or have used opioids.