The PAC Success Academies program was developed by the Probationer's Educational Growth (PEG) in 1997 and funded by the Florida Department of Education, Division of Workforce Development and Adult Education.  This comprehensive intergenerational family literacy initiative targets at-risk youth and their families. The collaborative six-week program addresses the educational, social and emotional needs of each family member. There is no cost to participants in this early intervention program.

PAC families share reading time

Family Unit Eligibility Criteria

PAC Success Academies is designed to meet the needs of those families with age 8-12 adolescents previously identified (either by the court, juvenile justice, law enforcement, or public schools) as potentially "at-risk".  Characteristically, this target group is unmotivated, experiences academic difficulty, and/or displaying inappropriate social skills or behavior.  To identify a prospective adolescent candidate, consideration is given to the following criteria.

• At risk of entering the juvenile system
• Truancy and/or dropout school issues
• Negative environment and peer pressure
• Economically disadvantaged
• History of family: substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse
• Diagnostic learning disabilities
• Single parent/caregiver provider

Adolescents currently undergoing substance abuse treatment and/or who have been prescribed but not taking medications are not eligible for this program.

The key determinant to admission is the willingness of both the parent/caregiver and their son/daughter to accept the responsibility and commitment to fully participate in this program.

Admission and Referrals

Community agencies may refer prospective parents/caregivers and/or at-risk adolescents directly to the PAC Success Academies' Site Manager.  Accompanying that referral will be any additional supporting information previously ascertained by the referring agency, including any parental/caregiver details. The PAC Success Academies Site Coordinator will review each candidate family, then perform its own evaluation and establish an individualized prescription for each participant to include the mapping of appropriate community resources to which that individual will be referred for services.  Parent/Caregivers are screened for their cooperation, willingness and ability to follow through with the program criteria.  After reviewing all information and recommendations available, a "Family Contract" is signed by the parents/caregivers, the adolescent, PAC Success Academies and a copy provided to the original referral source.