ST. AUGUSTINE YOUTH ACADEMY
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Program services include 64 slots with mental health overlay service and/or substance abuse overlay service needs. The program has one building with administration, classrooms, multipurpose areas, cafeteria, separate wings with separate youth dorms for the maximum-risk youth and the high-risk youth. Each individual unit is limited to 16 youth each, and outdoor recreation space.
St. Augustine Youth Academy serves 48 males between the ages of 14-18 in a high-risk residential commitment program (with Mental Health Overlay Services (MHOS) and/or Substance Abuse Overlay Services (SAOS) and 16 males in a maximum-risk residential commitment program (with MHOS/SAOS) between the ages of 18- 21.
Services are provided 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Our Residential treatment for sexually reactive adolescent males is a treatment program for ages 13 to 17, with an IQ of 70 and above.
The program is designed around the core belief that adolescents deserve treatment for their sexually reactive behaviors in a strength-based environment. We believe that treatment can be maximized through individualized treatment planning that encompasses the adolescent’s specific developmental issues, method of learning and individual strengths.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY & GOALS
The program provides individualized mental health and substance abuse treatment services using a trauma-informed approach. Youth participate in individual, family, and group therapy sessions, social and life skills training, victim impact awareness and restorative justice programming, and education and vocational programs.
The length of stay for youth in the high-risk setting is ( 9-12 months). The length of stay for youth in the maximum-risk setting is (18-36 months). The minimum length of stay for the maximum risk program is 18 months. The length of stay depends on the youth’s assessed risk to reoffend and the progress the youth has made in the program toward reducing and risk factors, ad-dressing the youth’s treatment needs, and increasing the youth’s protective factors (strengths).
The anticipated average length of stay depends on the youth’s pace of success in completing an individualized treatment plan and goals. The program’s goal is to equip youth for successful re-integration into the community to live productive, pro-social, and crime-free lives.
TYPES OF SERVICES AND TREATMENT
St. Augustine MHOS and SAOS provides clinical/ treatment services including the skills-based Skillstreaming the Adolescent, Moral Reconation Therapy, Aggression Replacement Training, Seven Challenges (for substance abuse treatment), and Impact of Crime
(a restorative justice, victim impact curriculum), as well as trauma-specific treatment programming if warranted.
Additionally, the program offers individual and family counseling to all youth. Medical/health services are provided by onsite nursing as well as a contracted physician, psychiatrist, dentist, behavior analyst and psychologist (if necessary).
Individuals are provided breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks daily, which are managed by a licensed dietician, with special medical
diets and religious diets provided as needed. Youth receive nightly and monthly incentive activities and a weekly Point Store. Input on incentives is provided by the Youth Advisory Board. The facility is required by contract to maintain a 1:8 ratio of staff to youth during the day and evening and a 1:12 asleep ratio.
ACADEMIC/VOCATIONAL TRAINING
St. Augustine Youth Academy is a Type 3 program offering English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Reading. Career and technical opportunities include CPR, First Aid & AED, Florida Ready to Work,
OSHA-10, and pre-vocational and vocational programming such as Pre-Employment Services and telecommunication technologies.
Education and vocational services are provided by Florida Scholars Academy.This program serves as a GED® test site. Eligible youth will have the incredible opportunity to take college courses paid for by the Youth Opportunity Foundation
whenever funds are available.
REFERRAL SOURCES & FEES
The Youth served have been adjudicated delinquent by the Court and committed to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The program is contracted through the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice; no additional fees are required from youth/families or insurance providers. The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice makes all placement decisions. Youth will not be retained in the program when they require services beyond those which the facility is licensed or has the functional ability to provide as determined by the medical director in consultation with the chief operating officer or designee.