The case management component of Prodigy is geared toward those youth that have chosen to divert delinquent behavior into positive behavior instead of going to trial for a first offense.
Prodigy is funded by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and serves as a diversion program for arrested youth. In addition, Prodigy serves as a prevention program open to all youth in the community.
No distinction is made by the program or the instructors as to the reason for attending – the diversion and prevention participants are in the same classroom. Peer interaction reinforces acceptable behavior for diversion and intervention youth.
Prodigy is a viable, proven-effective alternative to boot camps or other types of incarceration for first time offenders.
85% of diversion youth successfully complete the Prodigy program. Non-recidivism of those youth is *90%. While in the program *99% do not reoffend.
How Case Management Works
Professional staff of Bay Area Youth Services (BAYS) perform an initial comprehensive assessment of each diversion youth to determine their needs for treatment. Based on this assessment, a service plan is developed. The service plan consists of a Supervision Agreement, a Service Plan Contract, and the Youth and Family Needs Assessment. Case management also includes:
- A minimum of three (3) personal contacts per week with each student in the program
- One (1) school contact per week with counselor /teacher/ school resource officer
- At least one (1) personal parental/guardian contact per week
The Victim Assistance Program works out restitution arrangements with victims and BAYS manages payment arrangements.
Individual and family counseling sessions, seminars, as well as referrals to local mental health providers for severe behavioral/mental health concerns are also included. BAYS also administers community service opportunities for specified youth.
