Program Overview
About Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy
During the 1980`s, the Rockefeller Foundation identified the need in our country to provide opportunities for young people working to overcome problems in their lives which included being high school dropouts. In 1991 the Joint Armed Services Committee directed the National Guard to develop a plan to ``Add value to America`` by providing values, skills, education and self discipline to young people incorporating the structure and espirit de corps found in the military model. A five-year ChalleNGe Pilot Program began operating in ten states in 1993 under Public Law 102-484 and has since been embraced by more than 29 states.
OUR BEGINNING...
The Florida Youth ChalleNGe Program is endorsed by the state and is a cooperative effort between the Department of Education, department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Children and Families, Clay County District Schools and Department of Military Affairs, i.e., the Florida National Guard. The Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy is located on Camp Blanding (45 miles west of St. Augustine) and housed in an existing military complex that has been renovated to accommodate administrative and operational requirements.
TO QUALIFY...
To apply to the Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy, each applicant must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria: be 16 but no more than 19 years old; a high school drop out/expellee or disenrollee; a citizen or legal resident of the United States and a resident of the State of Florida; unemployed/underemployed; not currently on probation or parole for other than misdemeanor offenses; not charged, under indictment, nor awaiting sentencing; not convicted of a felony; free of illegal drugs; physically and mentally capable of completing the program; and be a volunteer.
PHASES...
The program consists of three phases a Pre-ChalleNGe Phase of two weeks, a ChalleNGe Phase of five months, and a Post Residential Phase of one year. During the Pre-ChalleNGe Phase, applicants are stressed mentally and physically and then evaluated to determine if they are prepared for acceptance into the ChalleNGe Phase. Those earning the right to participate in the ChalleNGe Phase become "cadets" and will undergo a demanding, highly regimented, motivational period where the core components of academic excellence (GED completion), community service, job skills, leadership/followship, life-coping skills, physical fitness, and health education are embraced daily. The Post Residential Phase is a mentorship phase beginning immediately after graduation in each cadet's home community.
OUR MISSION...
To provide a highly disciplined and motivational environment, free from outside distractions, which fosters academics, leadership, development, personal growth, self-esteem and physical fitness for qualifying high school dropouts.
FUNDING...
The Florida Youth ChalleNGe program is funded by the Department of Defense and the State of Florida and is operated through a cooperative agreement between the National Guard Bureau and the Governor of Florida. Funding is based on the graduation rate of 125 cadets twice a year. This program is provided at no charge to the applicants.
STAFFING...
The Academy consists of an operational staff and cadre with in-depth military experience, certified instructors from the Clay County District School system, a registered nurse practitioner, counselors and recruitment/placement personnel.