Everglades Academy

Limited compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 1.02 Education Transition Plan (Education Contract Provider)

Upon admission, education staff and youth develop an education transition plan which includes provisions for continuation of education and/or employment. The program’s contracted education provider is required to develop an Education Transition Plan for each youth. A review of six closed youth records indicated all six closed records did not contain an Education Transition Plan. Reviewed documentation indicated most youth entered the program before December 2, 2024, when the new education provider, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) under the name Florida Scholars Academy (FSA), started their initiation of the transition plans; therefore, the youth would not have had an Education Transition Plan developed by the provider. The information needed for the transition activities can be obtained from the Department’s Electronic Education Exit Plan (EEEP). Key personnel related to transition activities including the youth, instructional personnel in the juvenile justice education program, department personnel for youth in residential programs, personnel from the post-release school district, and a certified school counselor from the school district or program were involved in the reviewed transition activities. Five of the six youth records documented a parent/guardian participated in their transition activities, while one youth’s parent’s/guardian’s participation could not be determined. Each reviewed youth record addressed the youth’s education transition activities to include, at a ...

Failed compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 1.04 Education Staff Training (Education Contract Provider)

The Educational Provider staff shall complete staff training as outlined within the contract. The program’s contracted education provider is required to provide assigned staff with professional development and training as specified in their contract. A review of twenty-three teacher’s training records reported fourteen on-line teachers did not have any of the trainings required by the contract. Three of nine on-site teachers had all trainings necessary for on-site teachers. Two teachers did not have Facility Emergency Procedures, Facility Operating Procedures, and Adolescent Development training. One teacher did not have Trauma Informed Care/Trauma Responsive Practices, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Management and De-escalation, Professionalism, Interpersonal Communication, and Ethics to include Standards of Conduct trainings. Three teachers did not have any of the required trainings for on-site teachers. Additionally, not all trainings were reflected in the Department’s Learning Management System (Skill Pro).

Limited compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 1.05 Exit Portfolio (Education Contract Provider)

The Educational Provider shall develop and upload an Exit portfolio at least three school days prior to the youth’s exit from a residential commitment program. The program’s contracted education provider is required to develop and upload an exit portfolio for each youth. A review of six closed youth case management records reported all six records did not contain an individual Education Transition Plan, Progress Monitoring Plan, or any industry certifications earned. However, all six youth records had results of district and statewide assessments, and a cumulative transcript. Two of the youth’s exit portfolios had a list of courses in progress with grades to date, while the other four were not applicable due to working on their high school equivalency diploma (GED). It was noted all six youth were not applicable for a Section 504 Plan, English Language Learner (ELL) Plan, or Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). Three of the six youth did have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), while the other three were not applicable. Three of the six youth’s exit portfolios were uploaded within the Department’s Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS) within three school days prior to the youth’s release and the other three were not uploaded.

Failed compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 1.06 Career Education (Education Contract Provider)

Education staff shall develop and implement a career education competency development program. The program’s contract requires the education contract provider to develop and implement a program which fosters career education competency. The provider’s submitted statement indicated a career education program was in development at the time of the annual compliance review. A review of the currently utilized Career Power Workbook content indicated it offers soft skills to include communication, interpersonal skills, and work ethic; however, does not provide content and competencies or prerequisites needed for entry into specific occupations as required for a secure program. During the annual compliance review week, the provider did not have a developed or implemented career education program appropriate to the program type.

Limited compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 3.08 Specialized Treatment Services (Critical)

Specialized treatment services shall be provided in programs designated as “Specialized Treatment Services Programs” or are designated to provide “Specialized Treatment Overlay Services.” The program maintains a written policy and procedures involving specialized treatment services. According to the program’s contract, required primary clinical groups are Pathways and Skillstreaming the Adolescent. The designated mental health clinician authority worked on-site for forty hours a week and was on call for emergencies. The clinical staff worked on-site seven days a week and on-call as needed. The identified non-primary group is Living in Balance (LIB). All five interviewed youth confirmed attending groups as scheduled on a consistent weekly basis. Additionally, five interviewed staff also confirmed groups were occurring as scheduled. Each group was in ratio according to the contract. The designated mental health clinician authority (DMHCA) confirmed the mental health and substance abuse groups were provided. The program’s practice is to provide individual counseling once every two weeks, sex offender counseling two times each week, family therapy once a month, and psychiatric services monthly, or as needed. A contract amendment stipulated family therapy should be provided once every two weeks as of July 1, 2024, and three juvenile sex offender counseling groups shall be provided weekly. A review of documentation indicated services were not being provided in accordance with the ...

Failed compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 6.08 Florida Youth College (Post-Secondary Contract Provider)

The post-secondary provider, upon receiving the referral for services, shall assign a Florida Youth College Career Navigator to each youth. Each youth shall attend an orientation session to develop a career pathway plan. The career pathway plan shall include postsecondary education options at a state or technical college or Registered Pre-apprenticeship/ Registered Apprenticeship programming that leads to a Registered Pre-apprenticeship Certificate of Completion from FLDOE. For youth transitioning from the Department, follow-up shall be completed in thirty, sixty, ninety, and 180 days after their release. Each referral received by Florida Youth College (FYC) from the education contracted provider is assigned a career navigator. The career navigator then connects with youth through the residential contracted provider to schedule an orientation session. During orientation, the youth and career navigator develop a career pathway plan to include postsecondary courses and/or enrollment in a state or technical college. The career navigator continues to assist youth on their career pathway plan and have incremental follow-up sessions scheduled through the residential contracted provider. A review of three youth closed records found two youth met the eligibility criteria for a referral to FYC. A review of two applicable youth records found there was no documentation a FYC career navigator was assigned for either youth. There was no documentation a thirty-day follow up was conducted ...

Limited compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 5.08 Contraband Procedures

The program’s policy must address illegal contraband and prohibited items. A program shall delineate items and materials considered contraband when found in the possession of youth, the list must include: sharps, escape paraphernalia, tobacco products, lighters or matches, electronic or vaporless cigarettes, any unauthorized article of food or clothing, any intoxicating beverage or any beverage which causes or may cause an intoxicating effect, any controlled substance, any prescription or non-prescription drug which has a hypnotic, stimulating, or depressing effect, any firearm or weapon of any kind or any explosive substance, non-facility issued electronic equipment or devices to include smartwatches, metals, personal non-facility issued cellular devices, unauthorized currency or coin(s), and non-facility issued keys. The program shall provide youth with the list of contraband items and materials and inform the youth of the consequences if found with contraband. The program shall establish a system to prevent the introduction of contraband and identify contraband items and materials through searches of the physical plant, facility grounds, and both staff and youth. The program shall document the confiscation of any illegal contraband and the manner of disposition. The program shall keep a copy of the documentation in the youth’s case record. If a confiscated item is not illegal or prohibited, the program director or designee has the discretion to discard of the item, return ...

Failed compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 6.08 Florida Youth College (Post-Secondary Contract Provider)

The post-secondary provider, upon receiving the referral for services, shall assign a Florida Youth College Career Navigator to each youth. Each youth shall attend an orientation session to develop a career pathway plan. The career pathway plan shall include postsecondary education options at a state or technical college or Registered Pre-apprenticeship/ Registered Apprenticeship programming that leads to a Registered Pre-apprenticeship Certificate of Completion from FLDOE. For youth transitioning from the Department, follow-up shall be completed in thirty, sixty, ninety, and 180 days after their release. Each referral received by Florida Youth College (FYC) from the education contracted provider is assigned a career navigator. The career navigator then connects with youth through the residential contracted provider to schedule an orientation session. During orientation, the youth and career navigator develop a career pathway plan to include postsecondary courses and/or enrollment in a state or technical college. The career navigator continues to assist youth on their career pathway plan and have incremental follow-up sessions scheduled through the residential contracted provider. A review of three youth closed records found no youth met the eligibility criteria for a referral to FYC. A review of one applicable youth record found there was no documentation a FYC career navigator was assigned for the youth. There was no documentation a thirty-day follow up was conducted after ...

Limited compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 2.14 Treatment Team Members and Meetings (Formal and

Informal Reviews) The treatment team members include, at a minimum, the youth, representatives from the program’s administration and residential living unit, education, and others responsible for providing or overseeing the provision of intervention and treatment services. A program shall ensure the intervention and treatment team meets bi-weekly (formally and informally) to review each youth’s performance, to include RAY Reassessment results, progress on Individualized Performance Plan goals, positive and negative behaviors, including behaviors resulting in physical interventions. If the youth has a treatment plan, review their treatment plan progress. The program maintains a written policy and procedures to address requirements for formal and informal treatment team meetings and members. EVERGLADES YOUTH ACADEMY A review of treatment team meeting forms confirmed all required formal and informal reviews were completed with all required treatment team members. During the week of the annual compliance review, an observation of treatment team was conducted. Treatment team members included the treatment team leader, youth, mental health staff, education staff, the assistant facility administrator (AFA), the parent/guardian, and juvenile probation officer (JPO). The program’s medical staff provided written documentation. The treatment team staff provided a brief synopsis of the youth’s progress in the program by reviewing and discussing the youth’s performance plan. Each youth ...

Limited compliance, DJJ review : Indicator 5.23 Recreation and Leisure Activities

The program shall provide a variety of recreation and leisure activities. The program maintains a written policy and procedures to ensure each youth has a variety of recreation and leisure activities. The daily activity schedule was posted throughout the program and included a range of supervised and structured indoor and outdoor recreation activities for at least one hour daily for the youth. The structured activities included large muscle activities on the schedule. A review of logbook entries indicated recreation was conducted as scheduled. The activities selected on the schedule promote social and cognitive skill development, creativity, teamwork, healthy competition, mental stimulation, and physical fitness. Observations of recreation activities ensured the program takes precautionary measures to prevent overexertion, heat stress, dehydration, frostbite, hypothermia, and exacerbation of any existing illness or physical injury. The program’s contract requires the program to have two recreation therapists on-site. Each recreation therapist is to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field or work-related experience which must be approved by the Department. One recreation therapist position has been vacant since the provider took over the contract on July 1, 2021, and the second position has been vacant since April 4, 2023. The facility administrator (FA) reported the operations manager has been providing large muscle recreation activities to the youth at the program. The ...