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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1437 |
| Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. |
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| Requester: |
Dorienne J. Silva |
Organization: |
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. |
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| Project Title: |
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. |
Date Submitted |
1/15/2003 1:05:27 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Atwater |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| To close the treatment gaps and improve resources in the child welfare and juvenile justice system. To serve children, youth and families and provide services that will help stabilize them, and thus prevent them from further penetrating the juvenile justice and child welfare system, help track them and where possible reunify or keep families intact. |
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| Recipient: |
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. |
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Contact: |
Steve Hill |
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8900 N. Armenia Ave, Suite 224 |
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Contact Phone: |
(850) 668-3900 |
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Tampa 33604 |
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| Counties: |
Duval, Hillsborough |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| Florida Youth Advocate Programs is a division of YAP, Inc. a private non-profit established in 1975. It operates programs nationally in 7 states and Washington D.C. as well as internationally in England and Ireland. YAP provides community based alternatives and interventions with holistic planning tailored to meet the specific needs of families, children and youth and designed to effect long-term change. Advocate programs provide social service and government agencies with viable, cost effective alternatives to out of home placement for pre-delinquent, delinquent, child dependent and mental health populations. The wraparound advocacy model is adaptable to varied target population in different locations, demographics and objectives. YAP hires advocates (skilled, supportive adults/mentors) from the community that establish trusting relationships with the troubled person and their family and provide an array of services. Advocate programs work to link families with community based services and supports that will last even after program involvement ends. Included in the project is a supported work program used to hire age appropriate youth and on occasion parents that provide workplace skills and experience. YAP, Inc. practices a no eject, no reject policy that guarantees that all youth are accepted regardless of type charges, history or behavioral characteristics (within contractual parameters). In its 2. years existence in Florida, YAP has served over 200 youth and currently serves approximately 75 youths at any given time. Youth are between the ages of 9 and 21 years of age and are in or at high risk of entering the juvenile justice and/or child welfare/foster care system. In Hillsborough, most children are classified with a serious emotional disturbance, and in Duval most are on probation. |
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| Is this a water project as described in Chapter 2002-291, Laws of Florida? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Some examples of YAP outcomes include- Since the 1992 inception of Tarrant County Advocate Programs in Fort Worth, TX, a program that serves juvenile probationers, over 1300 juveniles have been served and only approximately 15% have been removed from their home. For example, in calendar year 1999 of 429 youth served, only 12 or 3% were committed. In its 2 year existence South Carolina YAP program working with youth in detention, those on probation at high risk of violation and commitment, adjudicated youth and chronic truants boast 88% success rate in keeping youth in the community and preventing further juvenile involvement. Some anticipated outcomes include: Stabilize families; Link children and youth with their communities; Improve family functioning; Keep children with their families; Keep youth in schools; Prevent out of home placement; and Prevent further juvenile justice involvement. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$650,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$810,500 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$160,500 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Unknown |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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Unknown |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Various State Reports outlining the need for services that will help stabilize and improve families |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
01/31/2003 |
