The Department of Juvenile Justice is requiring its providers of prevention programs to direct their efforts to high-risk youth from high-risk areas. However, data is not yet available to determine if these targeting strategies are working.
Although the department has taken steps to promote research-based programs to prevention grant applicants, it should restructure its application scoring process so that programs that receive state funding are required to be based on activities that research has proven to be effective.
Approximately 68% of state prevention funds are directed to contracts with The Florida Network, PACE, and Hurricane Island Outward Bound. The department has not followed our recommendation to implement a formal process for monitoring by the Office of Prevention and Victim Services to ensure that the programmatic and fiscal requirements of these contracts are met.
The department should share information on its website about all the prevention activities it funds so that other entities will be aware of them and coordinate with them.

No Title
Report 02-62
DJJ Should Monitor Network and PACE Administrative Services and Revise Policies to Serve Appropriate Youth
Report 09-01 January 2009
DJJ Should Better Identify At-Risk Youth, Use Proven Prevention Models, and Revise Funding Practices
Report 08-07 February 2008

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.