Services
Children & Adolescents
Life is about choices. Teaching children to make decisions based on problem solving and effective communication can be the difference between success and failure. JFCS encourages youth to take responsibility for their own actions and that can begin by making a call for services.
Complex Problems Facing Youth and Adolescents
JFCS programs solve problems. If your child has difficulty with any of the following, help is just a phone call away.
- Coping with divorce or remarriage
- Exposure to substance abusers
- Low confidence/self-esteem
- Loss of a loved one
- Discipline or frustration in school
- Peer pressure
- Academic success in school
- Managing emotions
- Truancy or other delinquent behavior
- Gang involvement
At JFCS, our youth programs are preventive in nature and the goal is to give young people the skills to achieve success at school and at home. We connect with youth through families and schools to keep them linked to the community structure, making them less likely to engage in risky behavior such as drug use, crime, or gang-related activities.
Group Prevention Programs
Substance abuse education
Bullying and gang involvement
Anger management
Improving self esteem
Developing positive social values
Individual and Family Counseling
Play Therapy
School Based Programs
For more information on any of these programs, contact the Director of Counseling at 941-366-2224.
SATOSS - Safe Alternative to Out-of-School Suspension
JFCS offers this innovative intervention and counseling program at McIntosh, Booker, and Heron Creek Middle Schools in Sarasota County and Lincoln Middle School in Manatee County. Social workers from JFCS are assigned to each school to provide individual and group counseling to at-risk youth who are referred by school administrators. Students are matched with trained adult mentors who serve as positive role models and provide academic and emotional support.
Emma E. Booker Elementary Prevention Program
JFCS also offers behavior specialists to catch destructive habits early. Early learning helps children be successful in the classroom and prevents behavior such as verbal and physical aggression, insubordination and substance abuse. School officials and classroom teachers work with the JFCS social worker to help students with behavior changes to ensure success in the classroom. Similar to the SATOSS middle school program, elementary school students are matched with trained adult mentors who serve as positive role models and provide academic and emotional support.
Horizon Plus
JFCS, through funding provided by the United Way of Manatee County, has recently established a collaborative effort to provide psycho-educational and mental health counseling services for students attending Horizon Academy. The Academy is an alternative school that assists at-risk students throughout Manatee County.
Resource for Parents in Sarasota
All About Sarasota Kids is a connection to all of Sarasota’s resources for expectant parents and families with young children. Highlighting programs, services, and resources available only in Sarasota, parents who have questions – no matter how simple or complicated – can get answers quickly and easily. The Website provides visitors with helpful links to exactly the services they’re looking for such as educational services and fun events. Please visit www.allaboutsarasotakids.org to view your local resources!
