Amikids

Residential as an alternative to prison or an institutional setting for youth that have committed crimes, Amikids' juvenile justice residential programs combine education, behavior modification, and mental health treatment to address the needs of troubled youth. Amikids' programs help youth redirect their lives. This produces safer communities and youth who become successful tax paying members of society. Amikids' juvenile justice residential programs provide intensive guidance and round-the-clock staff-secure supervision, attention and care. The average length of stay is six months, but some youth stay up to twelve months. Amikid'Amikids's child welfare residential programs provide services to youth who struggle with acclimating to the foster care system and society in general. Youth are given the opportunity to transform their lives through positive and motivating programming that inspires learning, leadership and personal growth. Caring, positive staff role models provide youth with the tools they need to transition into successful home placement or an independent living program.

Service coordinationamikids' service coordination partners with local or state agencies to develop and manage a continuum of community based and residential services from subcontracted direct service providers. Currently, Amikids provides regional service coordination for the Virginia department of juvenile justice as part of their transformation initiative.

Day programsyouth are referred to the Amikids' day programs by juvenile justice agencies, school districts, the courts, foster care agencies, parents or they self enroll. Youth live at home while in Amikids day programs and this gives our staff the opportunity to address current issues in both the home and neighborhood. Youth attend three to five days per week for a period ranging from approximately four months to a year. Gender specific and/or evidenced-based intervention models are combined with education to address the educational, behavioral, and mental health needs that have kept youth from becoming productive members of their local communitites. Youth participate in community service projects and are taught the value of being productive members of their communities.

Other major programsamikids functional family therapy (fft) - the functional family therapy programs help over 600 youth and their families each year to improve family dynamics, communication and support, while decreasing negativity and dysfunctional patterns of behavior. This involves working with parents on developing parenting skills, improving family communications, controlling critical risk factors, and developing positive social behaviors. The fft programs are highly successful in helping youth develop into responsible and productive citizens with improved family dynamics.various programs are administered and or/supported by eleven entities that hold property and provide fundraising and other support to the other group members.