The document outlines a program called "Breaking the Cycle" which aims to prevent juvenile delinquency through early intervention strategies rather than detention. The program will identify at-risk youth ages 8-21 and provide in-house programs, counseling, education, and referrals to address issues like learning disabilities, health, social skills, and life skills. The goal is to support healthy development and avoid youth entering the criminal justice system, which is far more costly both financially and in human suffering than prevention and intervention programs.

1. Breaking the Cycle

2. Mission Statement:
Prevention versus Detention through Intervention.
Purpose:
We will identify and implement strategies to avert delinquent
behavior by at-risk youth on the Treasure Coast using a
multifaceted approach of in-house programs and collaboration
with existing resources.

3. “We cannot afford the financial or the societal costs of unnecessary
juvenile incarceration. By shifting our focus - and our investments -
to the front end of the system, we will save not only money, but also
lives.”- Florida Governor Rick Scott 2012
“We could send a juvenile justice youth to Harvard for what we pay
for incarceration, and we don’t get very good outcomes.” - Gladys Carrion,
Director, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
“It’s outrageous how much this country spends to lock up a single
child for a nonviolent offense…. When we lock up a child, not only
are we wasting millions of taxpayer dollars, we’re setting him or her
up for failure in the long run. The system as it exists now is unfair to
everyone involved and needs to be changed.”- Connecticut Senator Christopher
Murphy 2014

4. • Services provided to youth ages 8-18 with
supplemental services up to age 21.
• Distinct services will be provided based on age:
8-11 12-13 14-15 16-18 18-21
• Participants will be identified through referrals
from local schools, government agencies and
parent requests.
• Initial services will be provided for a combined
number of 20 participants.

5. Identify and address deficiencies in:
- Reading and Learning Disabilities
- Health Habits
- Social Skills
- Age-appropriate Life Skills
Incorporate:
- Singing/Music/Art/Physical Education
- Working with animals
- Anti-gang programs
Refer:
- Child and Family to counseling services
- Healthcare
- Access to suitable nutrition
- Mental Health services

6. -Procure office location and administrative staff.
-Educate the Community and seek donations.
-Recruit volunteer mentors from the community.
-Analyze the participant’s environment with an initial home visit.
-Join with social services and government partners.
-Track and analyze data in order to measure outcomes.

7. Program Administrator $35,000
Rental of office space 1,800
Telephone and Internet 1,500
Office Supplies 600
Independent Bookkeeper 1,200
Advertising/Fundraising 10,000
Total $60,100

8. Florida 2016/17 Budget earmarks “$541 million to reduce juvenile delinquency
through effective prevention, intervention and treatment services that aim to
strengthen families and restore the physical and mental health of troubled
youth.” (Florida Policy Institute 2017)
Grants from:
United Way of the Treasure Coast
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Tallahassee, FL
The Annie E. Casey Foundation Baltimore, MD
Center for Children’s Law and Policy Washington, DC
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Agoura Hills, CA
Hobe Sound Community Chest, Hobe Sound, FL
The Jim Moran Foundation, Deerfield Beach, FL

9. Participants will see improved Social and Life Skills.
Participants will be supported in healthy development.
Families will be educated and provided with strategies.
Participants will see improved performance at school.
Participants will avoid committing crimes and infractions.
Participants will avoid detention and entry into the Criminal Justice system.

10. Research shows it is far less costly to keep our youth out of the juvenile
justice system both financially and in terms of human suffering.
Intervention strategies make all the difference between a functioning
member of society or a burden. (Holman and Ziedenberg 2006)
Ripple effects such as lost future earnings, lost tax revenue and a higher
chance of recidivism costs billions of dollars nationally. (Sneed 2014)
“Prevention programs positively impact the general public because they
stop this crime from happening in the first place. And there are even
some prevention programs that are more successful than others. One
aspect of exceptionally successful prevention programs is their
comprehensive nature. Programs that are more holistic prevent future
crime better because they deal with various aspects of a child’s life, not
just a single one.” (Saminsky 2010)

11. Holman B. and Ziedenberg J. (2006) The Dangers of Detention: The Impact of Incarcerating
Yout in Detention and Other Secure Facilities. The Justice Policy Institute. Retrieved from:
www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/06-11_rep_dangersofdetention_jj.pdf
Sneed, T.What Youth Incarceration Costs Taxpayers (2014) Retrieved from:
https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2014/12/09/what-youth-incarceration-
costs-taxpayers
Justice Policy Institute (2009) The Costs of Confinement: Why Good Juvenile Justice
Policies Make Good Fiscal Sense. Retrieved from:
http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/09_05_rep_costsofconfinement_jj_ps.pdf
Florida Policy Institute (2017) Florida’s 2016-2017 Budget Increases Some Funding But Will
Not Improve Quality of Life. Retrieved from: http://www.fpi.institute/floridas-2016-2017-
budget-increases-some-funding-but-will-not-maintain-infrastructure-or-services-needed-
to-maintain-quality-of-life/
Saminsky, A. (2010) Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and
Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors. Retrieved from:
http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/165/preventing-juvenile-delinquency-early-
intervention-and-comprehensiveness-as-critical-factors