IGNITE Youth Alliance is a mentoring program administered by the Roundtable of St. Lucie County in partnership with more than 30 other community partner agencies, providing services and opportunities for youth involved in or at high risk for being involved in gangs, high-risk street activities and community violence. Our strategies include intervention, prevention and suppression activities to address violence in St. Lucie County.
IGNITE Youth Alliance is based on a national anti-violence model developed by the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and supported by the National Gang Center. The goal of the program is to reduce gang-related crime, community violence and victimization in St. Lucie County by providing alternatives and opportunities for youth. The program is voluntary and there is no cost for participants.
IGNITE Youth Alliance serves youth (males and females) ages 6-18 that are involved in or at risk for involvement in high-risk street activity and gangs.
We provide the following services and opportunities:
- Mentoring
- Life Skills
- Employment Assistance
- Transportation
- Pro-Social Activities
- Assistance with completing probation sanctions
- Re-Entry Services
- Tutoring
- Fatherhood Initiative/Girls Circle
Referral Criteria:
Males 6-11:
- Serious behavioral issues at school or at home.
- Family history of violence, gang involvement, substance abuse.
- Academic Failure, lack of commitment to school (truancy).
- Bullying and/or fighting behavior at school/street.
- Victimization and exposure to street violence/trauma (friends/family members killed).
Males 12-24:
- Family history of violence, gang involvement, substance abuse
- Involvement in a gang or violent street organizations/risky street activity
- Recently released from prison
- Recently shot
- History of violence/Weapons carrier
- Prior criminal history
Females 12-18:
- Family history of violence, gang involvement, substance abuse.
- Friends (and significant others) who engage in the problem behavior (violence, gang involvement, substance abuse) and antisocial peers.
- Sexual exploitation/trauma.
- Academic failure, lack of commitment to school (truancy), bullying, fighting behavior at school/street.
- Victimization and exposure to street violence/trauma (friends/family members killed).
For more information or to refer a person to the IGNITE Youth Alliance, please contact Intervention and Outreach Coordinator, Darcy McFolley at 772-448-5712 or DMcFolley@roundtableslc.org