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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1416 |
| 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 |
1/16/2004 1:41:07 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Argenziano |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| To close the treatment gaps and improve resources in the child welfare, mental health 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 those system, help track them and where appropriate assist in keeping families intact and/or with reunification. To act as an alternative to placement and where possible, help youth be successful in their home and community settings. |
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| Recipient: |
Florida Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. |
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Contact: |
Dorienne J. Silva |
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8900 N. Armenia Avenue, Suite 224 |
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Contact Phone: |
(813) 931-3950 |
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Tampa 33604 |
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Contact email: |
dsilva@yapinc.org |
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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 with the goal of affecting 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 program objectives. YAP hires advocates (skilled, supportive adults/mentors) from the community that establish trusting relationships with the troubled person and their family and work with them to 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 provides workplace skills, job readiness and experience.
YAP, Inc. practices a no eject, no reject policy that guarantees all youth are accepted regardless of type of charges, history or behavioral characteristics (within contractual parameters). In its 3.5 years existence in Florida, YAP has served over 350 youth and currently serves approximately 75 youth at any given time. Youth are between the ages of 9 and 21 years of age and are in or at risk of entering the juvenile justice and/or child welfare/foster care system. In Hillsborough, all program youth are has 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: |
| 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
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: |
$820,000 |
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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? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Guiding Lights for Reform in Juvenile Justice Document, American Youth Policy Forum |
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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: |
12/17/2003 |
