Credible Messenger - Expression of Interest

The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is requesting Expression of Interest responses from providers who provide community-based credible messenger mentoring, support, and life enrichment services that have:

(1)Staff with personal lived experience in juvenile and/or adult systems of care,
(2)Staff who are able to provide violence disruption and mediation services, and
(3)Who are able to navigate high-violence neighborhoods.

The Department is looking to provide these services for an average daily population (ADP) of up to twenty-five (25)youth in every county in the State of Maryland and are interested in providing the following services:

(1)Contact (e.g., face-to-face, phone or other contact, such as email or virtual platforms) referred youth within 24 hours of receiving referral from DJS.
(2)Provide intensive life coaching and cases management services to all youth identified and referred by DJS
(3)Programs must operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to include on call services.
(4)Programs must agree to participate in DJS designated training.

Youth referred will be in one of three programs:

(1)Thrive Academy who are youth on probation or aftercare that are highest risk of being a victim or perpetrator of gun violence.
(2)Thrive Passport is designed for youth who require additional supports and services.
(3)Detention Alternative for youth who are detained or at risk for detention.

DJS is seeking to contract with providers who have a rate issued by the Maryland Department of Education Interagency Agency Rate Committee for Fiscal Year 2025, beginning August 1, 2025. Providers are asked to respond in writing with general expression of interest. Please indicate your intent to provide the services requested by submitting the General Expression of Interest Letter or Email, which includes the following information:

(1)Name of your program/organization
(2)The county/counties your program operates in
(3)What program are interested in providing (Thrive/Passport/Detention Alternative), (Note: Providers can support all three.)
(4)How you will provide the services outlined above, and
(5)The number of youth you are able to serve?
(6)How you intend to provide the services in compliance with the COMAR regulations?

Procurement Program Participation Goals