Teen Court of Sarasota Awarded $15,000 from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to Support Navigating a Second Chance for Booker Middle School and Booker High School Youth

July 10, 2024—Teen Court of Sarasota is awarded $15,000 for supporting local families Navigate a Second Chance.

With the support of the following: Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe Fund, and the Verena and Peter Gowa Fund II at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Teen Court of Sarasota receives a $15,000 grant to provide Navigating a Second Chance from making a poor choice such as bullying, petit theft, vaping or other circumstances. These specific funds will be used to help approximately 75 youth enrolled at Booker Middle or Booker High School have access to the five programs we offer. These resources and tools will include listening to speakers share their stories in our Peer Circle groups, attending our substance abuse program called CAMP X-RAYD and potentially receiving mental health support. We also have a Social Media Responsibility Class and certainly our mentorship from our staff Case Managers to check in on their progress. Our families will be supported with gift cards for groceries, clothing or toiletries if the need arises so we can help provide a stress-free experience. With an overall 96% rate, we know our programs are effective and provide long term success for our young people.  

Navigating the referral to our organization includes an initial assessment and interview with the child and their guardian. This will help identify why they made a poor decision and were referred to our services in lieu of a juvenile arrest or school expulsion. While the young person is with us, we ensure they receive support, encouragement and tools to alleviate making additional bad choices. Coming to our door is a gift to those we serve. A Civil Citation can offer long term rewards if completed successfully. No longer will barriers in adulthood carry with them.

“We are honored to receive this generous grant, from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. This funding will enable us to expand our efforts in supporting families through a second chance, particularly those from underserved communities.  For over 36 years Teen Court of Sarasota has been providing alternative pathways and restorative justice practices to Juvenile Court, empowering young people, and reducing juvenile recidivism in our community. “We are grateful for this support and remain committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of the teens we serve.” said Heather Todd, Executive Director.

About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $488 million in more than 1,580 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $40 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $435.8 million to area nonprofit organizations to our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000.

Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc. is an alternative to Juvenile Court, allowing a young person a second chance of having a bright future. Youth who come through Teen Court participate in a court program run by their peers, under the supervision of a volunteer adult judge. Student volunteers who participate in our Teen Court program receive a law-related education along with community service hours for their time. In complement to the Teen Court program, the organization also offers counseling services, drug prevention, anti-bullying, social media responsibility and anger management classes to those youth who demonstrate extra need.

For more information about Teen Court of Sarasota, please visit www.sarasotateencourt.org.

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