FreshPath

Is FreshPath For You?

In 2014, FreshMinistries received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to launch our highly successful FreshPath Youth Program for adjudicated youth. This unique comprehensive program targeted court involved and high-risk youth and provided services for offending youth, their families and the community. During its programming cycle between 2014 and 2017, FreshPath was rated number 1 out of 19 FaceForward 2 awardees across the country, and had the support and partnership of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the States Attorney's Office, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Duval County Public Schools and a myriad of community organizations and businesses. With funds from the Kids Hope Alliance of the City of Jacksonville, FreshMinistries has continued and expanded the FreshPath Youth Program in 2020 using proven programming tools to make a positive difference in the lives of court-involved young people, and tackle the complex causes of youth crime and delinquency.

Our FreshPath Youth Program is going strong amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and we were able to successfully pivot all activities to an online/virtual platform in March 2020. Since going virtual, we have increased the number of online workshops and trainings to provide additional pro-social opportunities for students to attend academic support, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling (as needed) and group mentoring sessions. The FreshPath Youth Program is currently working with 60 youth who are either involved in the juvenile justice system or at high risk of going down that path. COVID-19 has not limited our abilities to serve these individuals and with the State’s support, we would expand services and efforts to reach even more of Jacksonville’s youth.

FreshPath offers services to 60 at-risk students each year to help them succeed in school, make good decisions and avoid future involvement with the court system. The program serves two groups, starting with students ages 10-13, who receive support services, academic help and mentoring, with the opportunity to join our FreshPath program when they reach high school. Separately, the program serves youth ages 10-18, some of whom are court-involved or in need of additional support and guidance. We realized that getting arrested as a youth can be the first step on a path to life of challenges; low educational attainment, difficulty finding employment and too often, more arrests and prison. FreshPath offers all youth a chance to build a brighter future.

This program is funded in whole or in part by Kids Hope Alliance of the City of Jacksonville.