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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #722 |
| Girls Advocacy Project - Expansion |
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| Requester: |
Vicki Lopez Lukis |
Organization: |
Girls Advocacy Project, Inc. |
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| Project Title: |
Girls Advocacy Project - Expansion |
Date Submitted |
1/4/2008 10:39:03 AM |
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| Sponsors: |
Atwater |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The Girls Advocacy Project is a project that serves female juvenile detainees in the Department of Juvenile Justice Detention Center. Currently these are the only services that are offered in detention. The GAP has served thousands of detained female youth that volunteer to participate in this program. The GAP works in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile Justice, the community and court agencies. |
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| Recipient: |
Girls Advocacy Project, Inc |
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Contact: |
Vicki Lopez Lukis |
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5201 Blue Lagoon Dr. Suite 964 |
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Contact Phone: |
(305) 216-7794 |
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Miami, Florida 33126 |
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Contact email: |
vivkilukis@mac.com |
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| Counties: |
Duval, Hillsborough, Lee, Orange, Palm Beach |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| The Girls Advocacy Project (GAP) works in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile Justice, specifically with detention center personnel. GAP staff consists of a qualified professional staff experienced in working with girls and their unique gender-specific issues. Judge Lederman, founder of the project, provides judicial overview. The GAP Facilitators meet with the girls frequently to conduct group educational sessions and one-on-one individual sessions helping the facilitator to best advocate for the needs of the GAP girls. The facilitators are knowledgeable in the area of delinquency and trained on issues pertinent to girls in the detention center. Girls are voluntarily admitted to the program. The subjects discussed include but are not limited to: Sexual Education; Violence; Medical Health; Victimization; Alcohol and Illicit Substance Use/Abuse; Gang Affiliation; Coping with Death and Illness; Independent Living Skills; Artistic Interests; Support Systems; Self Acceptance and Esteem; and Conflict Resolution.
In addition to the group and individual sessions, GAP uses a GAP journal in its work wih the girls. They write poems, reflections, letters and submit drawings for the GAP Journal. The Journal also serves as a resource and is available for girls to access in their free time. This has been a valuable tool for self-expression and in establishing a sense of community and peer support. The Journal remains available for new detainees to read and to include their submissions.
GAP also interacts with the Public Defenders Office, the Courts and the Department of Juvenile Justice as well as other entities/parties involved with the girls. GAP recruits individuals from the community and private and public organizations and foundations to complement their curriculum. Community action groups are being developed on a statewide basis increasing the community�s involvement with the GAP girls. These community volunteers contribute their services and items that improve the lives of the girls.
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| At least 60 % of the girls, through one-on-one sessions with GAP staff will make strategic contacts with court and community entities involved in their case.
At least 60 % of the girls will directly benefit from donations and contacts made by community volunteers.
90% of the girls will participate in group talks and verbalize their needs.
At least 50% of the girls will show an improvement in awareness and understanding of the topics presented.
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$800,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$800,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
None |
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Cash Amount |
$ |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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Yes |
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Fiscal Year: |
2007-2008 |
Amount: |
$500,000 |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$800,000 |
To Fund: |
Operations |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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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: |
OJJDP Reports on females in the juvenile justice system |
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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: |
Palm Beach and Hillsborough Counties Legislative Delegation meetings |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
