ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S

Choices, Safety or Behavior?

Help is available. All families experience challenges from time to time. Children may skip school, run away from home, refuse to follow directions or make poor choices. Most families resolve these problems on their own, but sometimes the challenges push families to the limit.

If that sounds like your family right now, you are not alone.

Boy speaking to man while walking down a hallway together.

Shelter Services

A Safe Place to Stay

If your child is running away, truant, struggling to control their emotions or is in an unsafe situation-- our shelters provide a structured, supportive environment where they work with a counselor to meet their goals and get back on track.

Who is eligible: Youth ages 10 through 17 who are experiencing one or more of the following:

Persistently running away from home despite efforts to resolve the situation

Habitually truant from school

Behavior beyond the family's control

Other serious behaviors placing the child at risk

Conditions of Ineligibility: We take a look at your child’s needs and our ability to safely care for them. Your child may have medical or behavioral concerns that our shelters are not equipped to safely address.

What services are provided:

24/7 supervision and care
Detailed assessment of the youth’s risks, needs and strengths
Individual, group, and family counseling
Case management and discharge planning
Educational coordination with local schools
Referrals to health, mental health and substance use services as needed

How long can my child stay?

Up to 35 days per stay.

Woman helping a boy with a worksheet at a table.

Help at Home, School, or in Your Community

If your family needs support but your child does not need shelter, community counseling may be the right fit.

Counselors work with your family to identify needs and develop a plan to set goals and work to meet them.

Who is eligible: Youth ages 6-17 and their families who are experiencing behavioral problems, truancy, runaway incidents or conflict at home. Participation is completely voluntary. There is no court involvement required to access these services.

What services are provided:

Intake and needs assessment

Individual, family and group counseling

Personalized service plan

Linkage to community resources

Crisis intervention

Follow-up and aftercare support

Program Goals:

Strengthen family communication and relationships

Keep youth safe, in school and at home

Prevent deeper involvement in the juvenile justice system

Build long-term family stability

Woman walking down a hallway talking to a younger teenage girl.

Case Staffing Committee

If your family's situation is complex or standard services have not been enough, your CINS/FINS counselor may recommend a Case Staffing Committee. This is a meeting — not a court hearing — that brings together your family, your counselor, a school representative and others who know your child to develop a more comprehensive plan. You may also request a Case Staffing Committee yourself. Submit the request in writing to your local CINS/FINS provider. The meeting must be held within seven working days.

CINS Petition Involuntary Services

A CINS petition is a formal request to the court to find that a child is in need of services. It is only filed as a last resort, after voluntary services have been tried and have not resolved the situation. The petition is filed by a local DJJ attorney, not by the family. As a parent, you also have the right to file your own CINS petition if the local program has not followed proper procedures or you disagree with the service plan.

Anchor Point Physically Secure Program

Anchor Point is a physically secure residential facility in Jacksonville for youth ages 10-17 who have been court-ordered due to runaway behavior, ungovernability or truancy. The facility was developed by the Florida Network, funded through a 2024 Florida Legislature appropriation, and is operated on the ground by Youth Crisis Center. Programming includes education, counseling, case management and aftercare services, all focused on the goal of family reunification.