Florida Youth Connections

Friends of the Children is an organization dedicated to empowering youth facing significant obstacles through long-term relationships with professional mentors. Their unique approach involves committing to each child for 12 years, ensuring consistent support as they write their own stories of hope and resilience. By prioritizing youth development, Friends of the Children achieves remarkable outcomes, with the majority of participants earning their high school diploma or GED, enrolling in post-secondary education, or entering the workforce. The program also emphasizes preventing juvenile justice system involvement and encouraging responsible parenting among teens. Generated from the website

Based out of Stillwater, Fla., Eckerd Youth Alternatives has been a provider of youth services for over 35 years. Through some 40 Eckerd programs in eight states, nearly 63,000 youths have passed through an Eckerd program. Eckerd Youth Alternatives operate a camp that was started in 1968 as a place for troubled boys. The institution has developed into a larger multi-state assortment of programs for at-risk/troubled boys and girls. Eckerd Youth Alternatives is a private, nonprofit organization nationally recognized for its programs to help youth. Programs serve boys and girls ages 8-18 who are at risk for or exhibit emotional and behavioral problems at home, school and/or in the community. As a pioneer in therapeutic treatment in outdoor settings, Eckerd Youth Alternatives provides specialized residential treatment and community-based programs for juvenile offenders, early intervention and prevention curriculum in grade schools. The new Transition to Independence program helps foster care youth approaching adulthood.

Eckerd Connects is a leading provider of workforce development and community-based services aimed at empowering individuals and families. Their programs include job training, career coaching, behavioral health support, and family stabilization initiatives, designed to foster successful lives and careers. With a commitment to youth and family support, Eckerd Connects addresses various needs through specialized services such as Job Corps, foster care, and prevention counseling. Their comprehensive approach ensures that children and families receive the tools and opportunities necessary for building safe and resilient futures. Generated from the website