Yesterday, DJJ, @floridayouthfdn, and @fjjassociation celebrated the 2026 Youth Ambassador Award winners! These youth have demonstrated dedication and resilience in overcoming unique challenges to achieve success. Congratulations, Ambassadors!

The Circuit 14 probation team recently partnered with Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School, a transitional work-study program for adults with disabilities, and provided the charter school with a donation of non-perishable food and hygiene items. Through this service, the donations will help supply food for over 100 individuals this summer, which is a major step towards helping local families and youth in need.

To kick off June as Responsible Fatherhood Month, DJJ hosted its inaugural Fathers and Faith Symposium. Attended by over 300 participants, this event consisted of workshops, panels, and special remarks from leadership within DJJ and a variety of partner organizations. Discussions focused on the powerful impact of fatherhood and strategies that attendees can take back to their communities. Thank you to all attendees and the Office of Prevention Services team for hosting this impactful event!

This month, DJJ welcomes three new classes of juvenile detention and juvenile probation officers! Each class was celebrated with ceremonies that honored the commitment and dedication of these officers in their new roles supporting youth and public safety. Congratulations to all graduates, and welcome to #TeamDJJ

Celebrate the start of summer with this Florida Fun Wordsearch featuring the names of all 67 Florida counties! You’ll find lots of kid friendly activities on our website including the wordsearch here: dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/kid…. Scroll down for the word search.

This week’s #TeamDJJ Spotlight goes to Human Trafficking Intervention Director Katherine Gomez who recently received the Chris Connell Merit Award at the Tallahasee State College Heroes in Public Safety Awards. Dr. Gomez has played a key role in multi-agency missing child recovery operations through the state, which have resulted in the recovery of 250 youth. Congratulations, and we appreciate your dedication to ensuring the safety of Florida’s youth!

On Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. We remember their courage and extend our deepest gratitude and prayers to the families and loved ones they left behind.

Broward Regional Juvenile Detention Center and the facility’s education department recently hosted its 4th Annual Career Fair for the youth. The event allowed the youth to explore careers, complete job applications, learn how to apply for housing assistance, learn about financial literacy classes, and sign up for trade school.

This week’s #TeamDJJ Spotlight goes to Northeast Region Chief Commitment Manager Kristina Picone. She was recently nominated for a Valor Award at the Hispanic Chamber of Central Florida’s annual award ceremony, which is held to recognize the extraordinary courage, heroism, and selfless service of local public safety professionals. Congratulations to Ms. Picone on this outstanding recognition!

The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1st, and now is the time to prepare to ensure that you, your family, and your home are protected. To learn more about the steps needed to make a plan before a storm arrives, visit: bit.ly/49G8gPe Follow @FLSERT for more information.

Congratulations to Deputy Chief of Staff Christopher Goodman who was recently sworn in as the 32nd President of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute. In this role, he will support the institute in its mission to foster and promote its members and their respective organizations by extending shared resources and providing meaningful educational opportunities for criminal justice professionals across the state of Florida. #TeamDJJ

Today is Third Shift Workers Day, and we want to share our appreciation for our #TeamDJJ staff members who keep things running 24/7. We thank you for your dedication and late nights to ensure our youth and communities are kept safe!

Takeovers are a community issue, and they require a community response. We are urging parents, to step in. Know where your teens are, know who they’re with, and talk with them about making safe choices this summer. If you see signs of a takeover forming, whether online or in person, don’t ignore it. Report it by calling 813-231-6130. Teens, don't forget to join us this Friday at the NFL YET Center (3310 E Lake Ave) for "Takeover with a Purpose." The fun begins at 8:00 p.m., and ends at midnight. Hope to see you there!

The DJJ Office of Prevention Services recently celebrated the accomplishments of 480 elementary school students who excelled in literacy at schools around the state of Florida. The events honored the top 120 readers from kindergarten through 5th grade, celebrating their dedication and love for reading with ice cream socials generously sponsored by @floridayouthfdn.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and during this time, we encourage everyone to recognize the importance of mental health and take concrete steps to improve their mental well-being. Individuals in need of assistance can contact the 988 Florida Lifeline, a free behavioral health support service that connects Floridians to local professionals who can help. Call or text 988 to get help now.

Two DJJ team members recently graduated alongside 42 other first-line supervisors from Class 62 of the Florida Leadership Academy hosted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute. The graduates participated in training sessions to learn skills that will support the needs of their agencies and their communities. Congratulations to our DJJ staff graduates, and thank you for your commitment to professional excellence in support of Florida’s youth and families!

As DJJ celebrates Florida Law Enforcement Appreciation month, Circuit 10 Probation was proud to welcome Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd to their recent circuit-wide meeting where he delivered inspiring remarks. During the meeting, Sheriff Judd was also presented with an official DJJ juvenile probation officer badge as a thank you for his efforts in serving the citizens of Polk County and the state of Florida.

This week is Public Service Recognition Week, and we take this time to recognize the impactful work of public service professionals within our communities. Thank you for your service!

During #TeacherAppreciationWeek, we thank the dedicated educators who work daily to ensure DJJ youth receive high-quality education to support their pathways to success!

This month, DJJ welcomes three new classes of juvenile detention and probation officers! Congratulations to all graduates and welcome to #TeamDJJ!

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time when communities throughout the nation collaborate to support strong families, thriving children, and healthier communities. Throughout the month, #TeamDJJ, showed their support by wearing blue, planting pinwheel gardens, and sharing resources and ways to get involved in preventing child abuse. Learn more at preventchildabusefl.org.