The Florida Youth Challenge Academy is a community-based program that leads, trains and mentors at-risk youths so they can become productive citizens. The academy promotes adult responsibility, values and basic lifestyle changes by providing a demanding, highly regimented and motivational environment free from outside distractions.
In the voluntary program, 16- to 18-year-old high school dropouts enter a rigorous, five-and-a-half-month residential phase based on a military model. During a subsequent 12-month, postresidential phase, graduates are matched with a mentor and, with the help of a case manager, work to stay on track and sharpen their skills.
Since its inception in July 2001, the academy has graduated 6,392 cadets from 63 of Florida’s 67 counties. During the residential phase, cadets can either participate in credit recovery to return to high school or work toward earning a state high school diploma through the GED Testing Service. Cadets have contributed more than 452,000 hours of service to Florida communities, valued at more than $9.2 million. In the last year, 134 young people from across the state were directly impacted by the program.
The academy is governed by the Florida Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. It also partners with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Education through Clay County District Schools. The academy’s budget is funded in part by the federal government and in part by its state partners.
This past year, the academy continued to serve Florida’s at-risk youths through its military structure and an education department contracted from Clay County District Schools. Through the program, cadets gained experience by serving at local food pantries and assisting with festivals. They also took part in several educational field trips to deepen their understanding of the curriculum they were being taught in the classroom.
