VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County Council voted this week to dedicate $5.4 million to fund a juvenile assessment center in Daytona Beach.
The sheriff’s office said the campus will help improve the systems of juvenile justice, social services and mental health in Volusia County.
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“Today marks a huge step forward in facing the root causes of juvenile crime in our county,” Sheriff Chitwood said following the unanimous vote in council chambers. “We’re putting together a unified front to make sure there are consequences for criminal behavior, and resources for kids and families who need them.”
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Deputies said the council’s vote dedicates $5.4 million in federal relief funding from the American Rescue Plan to help launch a new family resource center. The county said the center will be staffed by deputies and staff, along with members of the Department of Juvenile Justice, SMA Healthcare, Halifax Behavioral Services, the Children’s Home Society of Florida and Volusia County Schools.
Any time a child gets involved with law enforcement, officials said they will be brought to the center to get mental health and substance abuse screenings. They will be assessed to see what programs and resources can help them.
In just the past year, deputies have arrested a teen for pulling a gun on a skating rink employee, shooting a person, and punching a security guard at a group home.
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The NAACP along with the religious organizations, FAITH and the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance, all support the idea. But they say a parent involved will be critical to its success.
“The only way the child can be great is the parent has got to assist, if not we are going to be right back to where we are without the program,” said Dr. Victor Gooden, with the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance.
Deputies said the facility will be located in an existing building at 1150 Red John Road, Daytona Beach. The funding will cover the cost of modifying the building to accommodate the program, plus four years of sheriff’s office operations there.
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