House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2046 AMI Level 2 Non-Residential Programs
Requester:	Nick Millar		Organization:		Associated Marine Institutes
Project Title:	AMI Level 2 Non-Residential Programs		Date Submitted:		01/28/2000 11:05:56 AM
District Member:	Dennis Jones		Service Area:		Statewide
Counties Affected:	{Statewide}
Recipient:	Associated Marine Institutes		Contact:		Nick Millar
	5915 Benjamin Center Drive		Contact Phone:		(850) 386-6224
	Tampa 33634
Project Description:
Associated Marine Institutes, a non-profit organization, has been providing residential and non-residential juvenile rehabilitation and education programs in Florida for over 30 years. AMI contracts with the Department of Juvenile Justice and the local school boards to provide these services. AMI signed a 3-year contract with the DJJ on December 27, 1999 to provide statewide non-residential (Level 2) juvenile rehabilitation programs through 21 marine institutes. The contract includes 465 day treatment slots for 260 days per year ($3,920,787); 200 extended service day treatment solts (evenings and weekend)($2,395,505); family liaison and counseling services (5 positions)($94,991); six host families in Pensacola and Panama City ($146,927); vocational training (1 position in N. Palm Beach)($26,150); and 333 aftercare (SAFE) slots for youths who are transitioning from Level 6 and 8 residential programs to Level 2 non-residential program ($5,469,5250). The Governor's Recommended Budget for FY 2000-2001 contains a 62% reduction in funding for non-residential (Level 2) programs and a 25% reduction in funds in aftercare services. The DJJ has proposed that these diverted funds be used for community probation of these juveniles rather than for the traditional non-residential Level 2 programs which include education, counseling and treatment.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
AMI contracts with the local school districts to provide educational services in the Level 2 non-residential programs. Most students enter AMI's programs with a 5th grade functioning level. In the average 6-month length of stay at a non-residential program, students are provided with intense educational programs targeted toward preparing the youth to re-enter the public school system or to earn a GED. AMI closely tracks every one of its program graduates for a minimum of three years. Statistics show that there is no greater deterrent to recidivism than education.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Increased educational levels, increased life management skills, increased employment levels, decreased crime rates and lower recidivism rates. Quality assurance requirements are also specified in the contract between AMI and DJJ. AMI follows every student for a minimum of three years after leaving the program. In concert with all of the statistics on recidivism that are kept, AMI will keep and measure statistics on the above outcome measures.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$12,053,885
Total cost of the project:		$15,323,690

Request has been made to fund:			Operations
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?						Yes
	Cash Amount:	$3,269,805
Was this project previously funded by the State?						Yes
	Fiscal Year:	1999-2000		Amount:		$12,053,885
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?						Yes
	Amount:	$12,053,885
	Purpose for future year funding:				Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?					Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?						Yes
	Agency:	Juvenile Justice, Department Of
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?						Yes
Is there a documented need for this project?						Yes
	Documentation:	Please see project description
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?						Unknown