21/08/2025
Gadsden County, Fl.- Sheriff Young and Colonel Barkley are excited about our youth programs through The Department of Juvenile Justice that have served over 3000 youth throughout our local school system.
Sheriff Young mentioned one of our youth programs in particular, the SOAR Program which stands for “Students with Opportunities to Achieve and Rise”. This program gives our youth High School students the opportunities to achieve job skills through our employment readiness and learning program designed to provide training, leadership skills development, hands-on work experience, mentoring, and career preparation and service, to at risk and marginalized youth.
This program is in partnership with The City of Quincy, Am I Kids, Joy Land Indoor Play, and Havana Learning Center. These non-profit organizations provide on-the-job site training for students that will be receiving $12.00 per hour. These students will be on-the-job training Monday through Friday for a total of 8 hours per week.
Colonel Barkley, the Contract Manager through the Sheriff’s Office, stated that Alma Vinesse, the Program Director, will administer the day to day operation through four (4) youth councils by providing ancillary training, materials, and services to include, but not limited to the following: job interview, resume development and writing, interviewing techniques, customer service training, bulling awareness, conflict resolution, dress for success in the workplace, and soft skills development. These ancillary services will be provided two times a week at a minimum of thirty (30) minutes per session.
