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CBIRS Request 835
 
Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #835
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
 
Requester: Dorienne J. Silva Organization: Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
 
Project Title: Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. Date Submitted 1/13/2006 10:20:30 AM
 
Sponsors: Argenziano
 
Statewide Interest:
To close 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 reunification. To act as an alternative to residential or detention placement and where possible, help youth be successful in their home and community settings.
 
Recipient: Florida Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.   Contact: Dr. Stephen Hill  
  8900 N. Armenia Avenue, Suite 224   Contact Phone: (850) 668-3900  
  Tampa 33604   Contact email: ash001@comcast.net
 
Counties: Duval, Hillsborough
 
Gov't Entity:   Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): Yes
 
Project Description:
Florida Youth Advocate Programs is a division of YAP, Inc. a private non-profit established in 1975. It operates programs nationally in 9 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 children and youth and their families with the goal of affecting long-term change. YAP's 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 including: family support & counseling, academic assistance, substance abuse/mental health, and delinquency diversion. In addition YAP works 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 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 4.5 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 7 and 21 years of age and are in or at risk of entering the juvenile justice and/or child welfare/foster care system.
 
Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? No
 
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.
 
Amount requested from the State for this project this year: $650,000
 
Total cost of the project: $810,500
 
Request has been made to fund: Operations
 
What type of match exists for this project? Local
  Cash Amount $160,500  
 
Was this project previously funded by the state?   No
 
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?   Yes
  Amount: $650,000 To Fund: Operations
 
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?   No
 
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? No
 
Is there a documented need for this project? Yes
  Documentation: Guiding Lights for Reform in Juvenile Justice Document, American Youth Policy Forum
 
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?   Yes
  Hearing Body: Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation and duval county delegation meeting
  Hearing Meeting Date: 01/07/2006
 
Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida?   No