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Where is the Juvenile Assessment Center?
The Juvenile Assessment Center of Lee County is located
at 2117 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers. For a map
and directions to the assessment center click on
Map &
Directions.
How can I
find out about services that are available for youth in Lee County?
Go to
Services at the JAC
for information about services currently available at the JAC or click on
Community
Resources to find out about other programs and services available to Lee County youth.
My daughter is 13 years old and I can’t control her.
What can I do?
When you feel like you are in over your head with your
child, inviting professionals to help is often the best direction
parents can take. Seek therapy for both you and your child. Take
parenting classes. Or talk with your church’s leaders. A place to start
in finding the services you need is at the Juvenile Assessment Center of
Lee County. Professional staff is available to assess your situation
and needs. They can guide you in finding the services in the community
that can assist you. If your daughter will voluntarily come for
services, call 772-1211 to set up an appointment for an assessment or to
find out the schedule for walk-in services. If you don’t feel your
daughter will voluntarily come for services, call the assessment center
at 344-5100. They will walk you through your options to get assistance
for you and your daughter.
My child has run
away. What should I do? How should I report that my child has run away?
First check with your child’s friends, neighbors,
relatives or anyone else you think that might know where they are.
Report that your child has run away or is missing to your local law
enforcement agency as soon as you know they are missing. Have the
officer come to your home to take the report. Provide recent photos of
your child to the officer. Once you have made the report to local law
enforcement, you may also want to call the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement’s Missing Children Information Clearinghouse
(1-888-FL-MISSING) to report your child missing. This is a program that
provides a centralized file to collect, store, and disseminate
information on missing children in the state of Florida. Other help
lines are available at the National Runaway Switchboard (1-800-621-4000)
and the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services Runaway Hotline
(1-800-786-2929). When your child is found or returns home, notify law
enforcement and all others that have assisted you in your search.
Lutheran Services of Florida offers crisis counseling and family
counseling for Lee County families of runaway children (278-5400). They
also provide the Oasis Youth Shelter, which in some cases may be
utilized as a temporary, safe residence for a youth while a family works
toward resolving their problems (278-1030). Lutheran Services can also
assist families with youth who repeatedly run away.
Is substance abuse an issue for Lee County youth?
What are the warning signs of teen substance abuse?
In a survey of Lee County high school
youth, 36.5% reported they had used alcohol in the past 30 days, 19.1%
reported they had had engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days, and
13.9% reported they had used marijuana or hashish in the past 30 days.
46% of high school students reported they had used alcohol in the past
30 days. 23.6% of Lee County high school youth reported they had used
any illicit drug in the past 30 days. Youth use substances for
many different reasons including curiosity, to "feel good", to fit in,
and to reduce stress. It is difficult to know which youth will
experiment and stop and which will develop serious substance abuse
problems. Warning signs of teen substance abuse include:
Physical: Fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and
glazed eyes, lingering cough.
Emotional: Personality change, sudden mood changes,
irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, depression and a
general lack of interest.
Family: Starting arguments, breaking rules, withdrawing
from the family.
School: Decreased interest, negative attitude, drop in
grades, many absences, truancy, and discipline problems.
Social: New friends who are less interested in standard
home and school activities, poor judgment, problems with the law.
The above warning signs can also be signs of other problems.
Parents are advised to consult a mental health/substance abuse
professional for an evaluation if there is suspicion that their child
has a substance abuse problem. Southwest Florida Addiction
Services (SWFAS) provides assessments and treatment for substance abuse
issues. To find out about their services for youth, call 772-1211.
My son is 16 years old and says he wants to become
emancipated. Is that possible?
A youth is emancipated or “free” from their parents control when they
reach the age of 18, enter the military, marry or have the circuit court
declare that they are emancipated. Once emancipated, they are treated
as an adult and take on the responsibilities of an adult. In order to
have the circuit court declare a youth emancipated, they must be at
least 16 years old, willing to live apart from their parents or
guardians with their consent, and have a legal source of income to
provide for their own support in a stable living environment.
The court must determine that emancipation is in the youth’s best
interest. Emancipation in the State of Florida is referred to as the
“Removal of Disability of Non-Age.” For more information on
emancipation in Florida and the legal requirements involved, go to
www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm
and read Florida Statute 743.015. Or, click on
Emancipation for the Juvenile Assessment Center's brochure.
Other Resources For Parents:
Florida Department of
Education
Department of Juvenile Justice
FDLE Florida Sexual Offenders & Predators
Florida Children’s Campaign
KnowGangs.com
KidsHealth.org
Lee
County Government
Lee County Human Services Department
Lee County School District Parent Connect
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
MyFlorida.com
(portal to all of
Florida state government)
National Crime Prevention Council
(safety and crime
prevention for kids)
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
NetSmartz
(interactive
educational resource for children and teens on internet safety;
resources for parents/teachers)
Not My Kid, Inc.
(promotes parent
awareness about youth behavioral and mental health issues)
Parent’s
Guide to Computer Slang
Parent’s Quick Reference Card –
Recognizing and Preventing Gang Involvement
Parents.
The Anti-Drug.
Partnership for a Drug Free America
SafeKids.com
(internet
safety for kids)
Search Institute
(learn about the 40 positive
experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up
healthy, caring, and responsible)
Southwest Florida Parent
(information on local
support groups)
Warning Signs
(youth warning signs
of drugs, alcohol, gang involvement - for parents)
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