4 Troubled Teens Blog

The Pinellas County School district in Florida identified 1,916 homeless students in February. In February of last year, 1,315 homeless students were identified. That's a 60 percent increase.

"Many homeless students live in shelters, motels or are forced to live with friends and other family members after being displaced. Some girls, and male students, too, actually live in makeshift camps along the wooden areas of major roads an in cars and trucks." [Source: Pinellas Park Beacon]

A representative of PACE, a private organization that works with at-risk youth, told the Beacon that the rise in teen homelessness is due in large part to the troubled economy.

Labels: florida, homelessness

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The two dozen teenagers sitting in Courtroom Eight of Tampa's George E. Edgecomb Courthouse had been arrested for different offenses, but were there for the same reason: They'd been given a second chance. They had been allowed to trade jail time and probation for a six-week program called "Shock Education."

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Amy Mariani reported on the program in an Aug. 7 article:

Shock Education is part of the countrys Juvenile Diversion Program and is designed to do more than scare delinquents straight. ... Boys and girls, ages 12 to 18, are referred to the program by different agencies -- juvenile court, probation offices, Department of Children and Families, school resource officers and parents.

Participants attend a variety of sessions on topics including gun violence and safe sex, Mariani reported. They meet teen moms, parents who lost teenagers to violence and peers who have been convicted of crimes. Teens can only attend the program once. If they are arrested again they will serve their original sentences.

Labels: florida, jails, education, alternatives

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