Reducing Risk for Girls

Pace Center for Girls proposes helping mitigate risk factors and promote protective factors for girls in Broward County and Jacksonville, Florida, to reduce contact with the juvenile justice system. The project will help up to 180 girls aged 11-17 heal from trauma, build pro-social skills and reduce involvement in unhealthy behaviors through expansion of Reach Program services, which will include Restorative Practice services to reduce recidivism. The proposed expansion of Pace Reach services incorporates trauma-informed strategies to address ACEs and victimization and respond to the root causes of girls’ challenging behaviors. Targeted girls will receive free access to these gender-responsive and strength-based services to foster healing and empowerment. Pace therapists will assess risk factors known to precipitate girls’ entry into the juvenile justice system using the Problem-Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers. Pace will work with the Florida DJJ and other law enforcement agencies to provide restorative practice services and reduce recidivism.