BAYSKids

Originally founded as Bay Area Youth Services, Inc., BAYS was organized and chartered as a Florida Not-For-Profit Corporation on April 19, 1982. The agency, founded by the late William F. Bowman, was developed with the objective of improving the quality of life and increasing the potential of Florida’s youth. Over our 40-year history, BAYS has grown into a multi-faceted statewide organization with an impressive array of services. Our organization is focused on innovative approaches to better meet the needs of today’s youth and their families. We specialize in working with adolescent populations and are continuously working to improve our service delivery models based on the evolving individual needs of today’s families and to address identified gaps in services. We are proud of the partnerships and relationships that we have developed over the years and are committed to work closely with stakeholders, youth, and families to continue to inspire change, growth, and success.

JDAP is a diversion program that provides services based on individual youth and family needs. Only youth referred by the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and approved by the State Attorney’s Office (SAO) in the judicial circuit in which services are to be provided, shall be admitted to the JDAP. The targeted age group to be served is 17 and under; male and female. JDAP concentrates on determining the needs of the youth admitted into the program, addressing those needs, then ultimately encouraging the youth to successfully complete the program while aiming to minimize their risk of becoming repeat offenders. JDAP strives to influence youth to remain crime free during their participation in the program and thereafter.