At a School Board Workshop on Dec. 12, 2017, PACE Executive Director Gail Armstrong and Assistant Director Chris Lemon, along with four students from PACE spoke to the Hernando County School Board to discuss the program that will be coming to Hernando County in 2018.
Dr. Lori Romano recognized Senator Wilton Simpson as an advocate for increased mental health services for at-risk youth.
Armstrong began with a history of the PACE program, which began in Jacksonville, when juvenile justice workers realized that most girls in the system were victims of trauma, and their behaviors were a result of the unaddressed trauma. In Pasco County, most of the girls are currently not involved in the juvenile justice system, which is a testament to the preventative properties of PACE. This summer The Hernando Sun published the first article about the program, which has a capacity for 50 girls, aged 11-17, resulting in a maximum staff-to-student ratio of 1:14. The average class size is 11.
PACE’s success has been influential, and is currently being reviewed by other states for possible adoption, including Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
A transition program called REACH follows the girls for at least a year following graduation. REACH is also voluntary, and the girls have a choice in how often they wish to be contacted for follow-up. Armstrong said, “We’d follow our girls for the rest of their lives, and we love it when our PACE girls come back and visit us.”
The REACH component is already up and running in Hernando County, at Challenger K-8 and Explorer K-8, which have been identified as schools having a high need for services for girls, offering free therapy.
The two programs are described as “Gender Responsive,” providing a safe environment for girls to deal with and heal from trauma.
All staff “from the Executive Director to the person opening the doors in the morning” understands, recognizes and responds to the girls’ trauma effectively.
Armstrong explained that when a girl exhibits a behavior, the focus is holistic, and focuses on ‘the why’ the behavior is occurring, rather than punishing the behavior.
Three girls told their personal stories to the members of the School Board. They bravely spoke of family dysfunction, addiction, overdoses, suicide attempts, sexual abuse and assault. One senior reported coming to PACE as a sophomore with a 0.8 GPA. She has since elevated that to a 3.3. A junior told her story of success at PACE for the first time, and another credited PACE with her improved emotional well-being as a catalyst for her academic success.
Board Member Beth Narverud was the first to address the girls after their stories; “I’m glad you’re all here.”
PACE currently works in Pasco with several other agencies, including the RAP House and Youth and Family Alternatives. “It’s a wrap-around thing,” said Armstrong. “Our girls need services not just from us, but from everywhere.” Board Member Gus Guadagnino added, “It takes a village.”
If approved, the Hernando County PACE program will be based in four portables at JD Floyd Elementary School, with a one-time price of $9000 to defray operational costs and to update and repair the portables.
Prior Article: https://www.hernandosun.com/PACE-Center-for-Girls-to-serve-Hernando-County