YOUTH AND FAMILY ALTERNATIVES INC

YOUTH CRISIS SHELTERS PROGRAMS INCLUDE:THE RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND YOUTH CRISIS SHELTERS SERVE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES PROMOTING POSITIVE FAMILY INTERACTIONS, RESOURCE REFERRALS, AND TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL CARE. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP FAMILIES ENSURE A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO FLOURISH; A NURTURING, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FREE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, OF PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE. THESE PROGRAMS ASSIST YOUTH AGES 10 THROUGH 17 WHO ARE RUNAWAYS OR HOMELESS; ARE "LOCKED OUT OR "KICKED OUT" OF THEIR HOMES BY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS; NEED SHORT-TERM RESPITE OR CRISIS PLACEMENT DUE TO ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT; NEED EMERGENCY PLACEMENT DUE TO FOSTER HOME PLACEMENT DISRUPTION.

PREVENTION PROGRAMS INCLUDE:COMMUNITY COUNSELING IS A JUVENILE JUSTICE PREVENTION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ASSIST FAMILIES WHO HAVE A CHILD THAT IS A RUNAWAY, TRUANT, AND/OR UNGOVERNABLE OR AT-RISK OF THESE BEHAVIORS. SERVICES ARE AIMED AT PREVENTING YOUTH FROM ENTERING THE CHILD WELFARE AND/OR THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES RESIDING IN PASCO, HERNANDO, CITRUS, SUMTER, POLK, HIGHLANDS, AND HARDEE COUNTIES. CARING SCHOOLS COMMUNITY CREATES A CARING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERIZED BY KIND AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORTAION AMONG STUDENTS, STAFF, AND PARENTS. THE MODEL IS CONSISTENT WITH RESEARCH-BASED PRACTICES FOR INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. BY CREATING A CARING SCHOOL COMMUNITY, THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO PROMOTE PRO-SOCIAL VALUES, INCREASE ACADEMIC MOTIVATION AND ACHIEVEMENT, AND PREVENT DRUG USE, VIOLENCE, AND DELINQUENCY. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME, INCREASE STUDENT ATTENDENCE, INCREASE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND PROVIDE A SAFE, POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.