Eckerd Connects partners with states and local communities to support youth who are involved in, or at risk of entering, the juvenile justice system. Our Juvenile Justice & Youth Services programs focus on prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation—providing education, counseling, life skills, and career preparation. By addressing trauma and building resilience, we help young people make positive choices, reconnect with school, and strengthen ties with their families and communities.
What Are Eckerd’s Juvenile Justice Programs?
Areas Served
We operate juvenile justice programs across Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Kansas, offering residential academies, wraparound services, and community-based supports that combine evidence-based practices with mentoring and long-term care.
What Makes Them Unique?
Eckerd Connects’ Juvenile Justice programs are rooted in our mission and decades of experience. What makes them unique is our whole-person approach that blends education, workforce readiness, and emotional support:
- Therapeutic residential academies emphasize healing, accountability, and educational progress.
- Wraparound services are designed to reduce recidivism and stabilize families.
- Career and life-skills training that prepare youth for adulthood and independence.
- Collaborative partnerships with courts, probation officers, schools, and community organizations to ensure lasting change.
What Services Are Provided?
Eckerd Connects’ Juvenile Justice programs offer a coordinated range of services designed to support youth at every stage of involvement.
- Residential Justice Academies: Safe, structured settings that provide therapy, education, and vocational training for youth in custody.
- Community-Based Wraparound Programs: Intensive case management, mentoring, and family engagement for youth returning home.
- Prevention & Diversion Initiatives: Evidence-based programs that help youth avoid deeper system involvement through counseling, education, and community service.
- Aftercare Support: Ongoing mentoring, career preparation, and family support to ensure a successful transition back into the community.
What Is The Community Impact?
- Each year, more than 300+ youth are served annually through Eckerd Connects residential academies.
- Education and GED support provided in all academies help youth return to school or pursue further training.
- Career pathways created in partnership with local employers and workforce boards.
- Demonstrated reductions in recidivism, with many participants re-engaging with school, family, and community life.
In Their Own Words
“Don’t quit—you never know where it can take you.”
Charlie | Central LA Juvenile Justice
Once facing legal trouble, Charlie earned his diploma, started work as a mechanic, and now dreams of launching his own business.
