Jacksonville YouthBuild Program

Mission:

To provide Jacksonville's youth with the opportunity to complete their education, and to learn vocational and leadership skills, while providing affordable housing to low-income families.

Founded in 1995, the Jacksonville YouthBuild Program was originally a part of the Private Industry Council in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, Office of Grants Management and Compliance. When the Private Industry Council dissolved, the Department of Parks and Recreation continued with the program and has since carried this highly effective program to soaring heights. This program previously received funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $700,000 and in-kind contributions from the City of Jacksonville. The in-kind contributions consist of the office space for program administration and classroom space for GED instruction. On July 1, 2009, the Jacksonville YouthBuild program received a continuation grant from the Department of Labor in the amount of $919,395. This grant expires on June 30, 2012 and tallies on average 15,000 annual work hours to the city at minimum cost.

YouthBuild provides on-the-job training, including vocational classroom instruction and actual housing rehabilitation through a collaborative partnership with Habijax and the Jacksonville Housing Partnership. All of this is afforded through the auspices of the City Of Jacksonville, Office of Grants Management and Compliance, Office of Offender Based Programs.

Because of its inmate population, the City of Jacksonville's YouthBuild program is distinctly unique from other YouthBuild programs. YouthBuild is a comprehensive youth and community development program that simultaneously addresses several core issues facing low-income communities. These issues include the lack of education, housing, employment and leadership development. The program provides GED and Adult Basic Education instruction, leadership development opportunities, job readiness skills and placement services.

YouthBuild creates an environment that motivates male youth ages 16-24 and gives them the opportunity to succeed. Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Need for vocational skills to gain meaningful employment
• Educational needs
• Criminal record
• Economically disadvantaged
• Ability to pass TABE test
• Willingness to learn and be successful

Most of the participants strive for better opportunity and YouthBuild offers that. Through the years of existence we have a 90 percent success rate in students earning their GEDs. With this opportunity and at least a high school diploma they are far less likely to return to the prison system.

YouthBuild provides a needed service to young male offenders. A total of 287 students have received GED since inception of the program and 315 have graduated from YouthBuild. Some also have gone on to further their education and career in college, military and other training programs. Over 1,200 youth have passed through this program.

YouthBuild has been recognized in our local communities by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and State Attorneys Office as a 'best practice' program for youthful offenders. It has helped reduce the alarming rate of recidivism in this population. It also has enhanced the mayor's policy to provide better living situations for Jacksonville's low income residents especially in the Intensive Care Neighborhoods. The Jacksonville program has consistently produced exemplary results in the areas of high school completion, home building and leadership development. We proudly have been recognized nationally as a best practice model and a winner of the city's highest honor in the Volunteer Service, the Heart of the City Award.

Through the City of Jacksonville, YouthBuild has participated in several community projects. These projects include:

• Building wheelchair ramps for Housing Partnership of Jacksonville
• Department of Community Services Luncheon
• Mayor's Senior Party
• World Harvest Ministries-Food, Clothing, Water, Supplies to 3rd World Countries (warehouse labor)
• Paint the Town
• Retired Senior Volunteer Program Banquet
• United Way Rally
• City of Jacksonville Jazz Festival
• World of Nations
• Mayor's Fish-A-Thon
• YouthBuild Graduation Ceremonies

Irish Beckles, LMHC, MA
YouthBuild Program Supervisor
City of Jacksonville
Office of Juvenile Justice and Offender-Based Programs
117 West Duval St., Suite 250
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 630-2757
Fax: (904) 630-4938
E-mail: ibeckles@coj.net