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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Maryland Dept. of Disabilities is sponsoring a valuable program for students ages 14-16 who receive SSI. Read below and participate. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sharon Maneki<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Default>MARYLAND PROMISE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Pa0 style='margin-top:9.0pt;text-align:justify'> <span class=A0><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>What is MD PROMISE? </span></span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa1 style='margin-top:4.0pt;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>Maryland (MD) PROMISE can help you: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Find a job that matches your interests and skills<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Complete high school and receive a diploma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Connect with support services to help you become more independent<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Get information to help you enroll in postsecondary education and training <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Learn how work can increase your income<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Pa0 style='margin-top:9.0pt;text-align:justify'> <span class=A0><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Why participate in PROMISE? </span></span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Earn a high school diploma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Gain further education and training <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Make money<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Build confidence<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>• Make new friends<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Pa0 style='margin-top:9.0pt;text-align:justify'> <span class=A0><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Who is the MD PROMISE for? </span></span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa1 style='margin-top:4.0pt;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>Maryland youth between the ages 14 -16 receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and their family members. To find out if you are eligible to participate, call 888-232-8554 or email mdpromise@transcen.org.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>Only 2,000 participants will be accepted to participate in MD PROMISE. Sign up starts March 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Pa0 style='margin-top:9.0pt;text-align:justify'> <span class=A0><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>How do I apply? </span></span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Pa1 style='margin-top:4.0pt;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>Any eligible youth who wishes to participate in MD PROMISE must sign and return a consent form. Participants will then be randomly assigned by a computer to one of the two groups: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:12.05pt'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif"'>1) enhanced services group or <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='mso-margin-top-alt:1.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:12.05pt'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif"'>2) usual services group. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>Contact us at 888-232-8554 so we can answer your questions and help you complete the consent forms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'>Participants will receive two $50 VISA gift cards, one for the youth and one for the family, as a thank you for participating in MD PROMISE. Gift cards will be mailed after the consent form is signed and returned by the youth and parent/guardian.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica CY Plain","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <b><span style='font-size:30.0pt'>It Pays to Work!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>