Information released by the Florida Sheriff Youth Ranch program …
Janet Sampson, representing the Florida Sheriff Youth Ranch program, was the guest speaker at Tuesday’s meeting of the Chipley Kiwanis Club and gave members an update on how young men and women are making strides in their personal lives through the program.
The cornerstone and pride of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is its nationally renown network of residential child-care campuses, an array of cottages and villas scattered throughout the state of Florida offering a stable home to needy children.
Sampson said by utilizing the Boys Ranch/Live Oak, Youth Villa/Bartow, Youth Ranch/Safety Harbor and Youth Ranch-Bradenton/Sarasota, the Youth Ranches trained and devoted staff are well-equipped to nurture needy, neglected boys and girls, and provide a warm sense of security, guidance and tenderness.
Explaing that the young people at the Youth Ranch facilities are cared for by “cottage parents,” who help develop a strong work ethic, sense of responsibility, teamwork and respect in each boy and girl.
Proud of the 80 percent success rate garnered by the program, Sampson said those working with the young people strive to build confidence. She said the ultimate goal of the program is to help young people set and achieve goals and be prepared for a productive adult life.
While Sampson acknowledged there is a long waiting list of applicants wanting to become involved in the program, she said there are eligibility requirements including the following:
Eligibility requirements for residential care are as follows:
- Legal guardian and youth must be legal residents of the state of Florida.
- Youth must be between 8 and 18 years of age.
- Youth must have no other appropriate living arrangements.
- Youth must be of average or above average intelligence.
- Youth must not pose a threat to self or others.
- Youth must not be a serious, habitual offender.
- Youth must be able to physically participate in program activities.
- Youth agrees to participate in religious activities.
- Youth must perform in public school setting or another alternative educational program.
- Youth must not have alcohol or drug dependency.
- Youth must be willing to work on personal problems.
- Youth must be recommended by the local Sheriff.