The Florida Network of Youth and Family Services has implemented the Stop Now And Plan (SNAP) Behavioral Program in four cities statewide, including CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services in Gainesville, Youth Crisis Center in Jacksonville, Capital City Youth Services in Tallahassee and Orange County Youth and Family Services in Orlando.

With the assistance of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, each SNAP program provides high-risk boys and their parents with a model to help them stay in school and out of trouble by making better choices under pressure throughout the 13-week pilot program.

Around eight percent of youthful offenders will continue going down a life of crime, in which 50 percent are under the age of 12. Youth between the ages of six and 11 are selected for this program in order to break that path.

SNAP is not meant to solely empower young boys but their parents as well. By focusing on prevention, parents are able to intervene and encourage their children to stay on the right path through the lessons taken away with them at the end of the program. By signing up for this invaluable program, children and parents are able to effectively regulate emotions and utilize self-control and problem solving skills in the hope towards a better future.

If you know someone who is experiencing behavioral problems at home, at school or with persons in authority, sign up for your local SNAP program today:

Gainesville

  • More than 1,900 youth entered the Alachua County juvenile justice system between 2012 and 2014.
  • CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services will be offering the SNAP program year round and will begin to offer the girls program later in 2016.
  • Contact: Corey Collins
  • Phone Number: (352) 318-9416

Tallahassee

  • More than 1,300 youth entered the Leon County juvenile justice system between 2012 and 2014.
  • Capital City Youth Services held a SNAP training for juvenile justice leaders and professionals from the Florida Network last December.
  • SNAP will offer the program year round and will begin to offer the girls program later in 2016.
  • Contact: Rhone Francis
  • Phone Number: (850) 491-8082

Jacksonville

  • More than 3,900 youth entered the Duval County juvenile justice system between 2012 and 2014.
  • The Youth Crisis Center held a SNAP training for juvenile justice leaders and professionals from the Florida Network this January.
  • SNAP will offer the program year round and will begin to offer the girls program later in 2016.
  • Contact: Shenette Howard
  • Phone Number: (904) 465-3247

Orlando

  • More than 3,800 youth between 10 and 17 years old entered the Orange County juvenile justice system last year.
  • Orange County Youth and Family Services held a SNAP training for juvenile justice leaders and professionals from the Florida Network the week of March 28.
  • SNAP will offer the program year round and will begin to offer the girls program later in 2016.
  • Contact: Phil Whitby
  • Phone Number: (407) 254-9371

Visit http://flnet.digitalopps.com/ for more information!