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ABSTRACT

This article describes the statutory recognition of the need for prevention/early intervention juvenile services in Florida that are both trauma-informed and gender-specific. It examines how childhood trauma can impact at-risk children and the gendered aspects of such trauma. The article then describes the PACE Centers for Girls, a Florida-based school, currently undergoing a comprehensive evaluation, which attempts to incorporate elements that fulfill the statutory recommendations into its programming.

Introduction

There is a powerful correlation between childhood trauma and subsequent experiences such as school difficulties,! entry into the juvenile justice system, and recidivism.2 Both male and female youth in the juvenile justice system have experienced disproportionately high levels of traumatic events when compared with the non-juvenile justice population; yet there is an even higher prevalence of certain types of trauma for girls, such as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.3 As research demonstrating this correlation has emerged, youth advocates have called for prevention/early intervention programs for pre-delinquent at-risk youth and youth already in the juvenile justice system, which take into account the impact of childhood trauma-specifically the gendered aspect of certain trauma.4 In Florida, statutes respond to this demand by mandating trauma-informed5and gender-specific6 prevention/early intervention programming.

Part I of this article briefly describes the need for prevention/early intervention as outlined in Florida statutes. Part II establishes the parameters of effective traumainformed practices utilizing research focused on childhood trauma. Part III outlines the parameters and requirements of gender-specific programming and describes how intersection of trauma and gender has implications for effective services. Part IV describes an example of a Florida-based alternative school-the Practical Academic Cultural Education (PACE) Center for Girls, Inc. -that incorporates trauma-informed, gender-specific prevention/early intervention services tailored to meet the needs of girls at risk of entering the juvenile justice system. By describing the Florida statutory requirements regarding trauma-informed and gender-specific programming for at-risk juveniles, considering the underlying research that supports theses statutes, and outlining an example of a program for girls that strives to incorporate these elements, the authors suggest that a more uniform framework built on empirical research and proven approaches would be beneficial.

I.PREVENTION/EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE FLORIDA JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

Florida Statutes expressly recognize the importance of prevention and early intervention programs in addressing juvenile delinquency.7 Florida Statute Chapter 985,...

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