Manatee Youth Academy

I adore my new job as it is exactly where I hoped to be after getting my Masters degree. I am the therapist for Manatee Youth Academy which is a level 8 program (formerly recognized as a bootcamp) run by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office & the Department of Juvenile Justice. The agency I work for is called PsyCare and we are the contract mental health provider. The youth I am fortunate enough to work with can be from age 13 up until the day before they turn 22. This program is meant to be a 9 to 12 month program. The Cadets learn Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Restorative Justice, Substance Abuse Education/Treatment, and so much more. They are active with PT and other drills and everything is very organized. The sister program Omega Level 10 was closed down last year and this was not a good thing since the need for these types of programs are immense. We are dealing with juveniles who have the criminal thinking patterns, denial, and abuse issues. Once they are able to let go of their stubborn ways we see young men who have a chance to be a part of the 55% success rate. Write to your local legislator about the need for Omega to reopen as these kids are now out on the streets instead of a program and Florida needs to help these criminals to learn how to be contributing citizens that love and respect others and their property...first and foremost young men who love themselves. Thanks for letting me ramble here is a link to where I am lucky to work. I run 5 groups a week, screen new candidates, complete intake work, devise Tx plans, and give 1:1 therapy with those who most need it. I have seen two graduate since I started and they are working, not reoffending, and truly changed for the better. Click here to be linked to MCSO Youth Academy

Dedicated to my family up North.

I must apologize in advance for not posting as much as I had in prior months. Everyday there is work when you move like working your day job and then coming home and trying to unpack and paint...etc. and so on. Somedays Martha and I were so exhausted and could barely walk due to lifting and staying on our feet so long. It was all worth it as 01/13/07 was three weeks that we have lived here and almost all the rooms are how we want them to be. The office is still needing to be organized and we are finishing up our version of HGTV's mission organization in our garage. I truly enjoy my new job as the Therapist at Manatee Youth Academy (Level 8 Juvenile Program) and Martha is very content with her Medical Coding career at Gould&Lamb. The boys are enjoying the new home and today on Martin Luther King day they are enjoying having the company of their cousins Zack and Brandon who spent the night. So the most common question people ask is how do you like the new home and Martha and I look at each other and giggle because we have not had much down time to enjoy it Nevertheless the answer is that we love it and it is nice to have so much room for ourselves, entertaining, and sleepovers. I miss all of you and I hope to have you come down to Florida to visit when you can :)

Martha's Family Reunion At Our New House!!!